Over the past four decades, China has undergone dramatic economic reform, transforming from a backward agrarian society to the world's second-largest economy. Today, China plays a critical role in shaping the United Nations and is one of its largest contributors. Once a major recipient of UN aid, China has risen to become the UN's the second largest contributor with a regular budget of up to 334,726,585 U.S. dollars in 2019.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN's The Point with Liu Xin, Liu Zhenmin, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and the head of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, speaks about the challenges facing the UN and China's changing role within the organization.

Liu lamented the lack of progress on climate change after the landmark Paris Agreement, saying that the ''process of implementation is not very good," and referred to a lack of ambition among some of the signatories, especially the U.S., which withdrew from the agreement under the Trump administration.

However, he sees this week's gathering at the UN as a positive step since world leaders will have the opportunity to mobilize and re-energize the flailing spirit of the Agreement. Action must be taken within the next decade, he said.

As for other obstacles facing the climate issue, Liu said sluggish global growth is also halting the transition from traditional fossil fuels to green energy, which is vital in winning the battle against climate change. However, he praised China's commitment to tackling this ever-growing issue which now dominates news cycles. 

"China's role [in tackling climate change] has been very critical as well as very positive,'' he said.

Structural reform is also high on in the United Nations' list of priorities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has pledged to reform the UN in a bid to make it more effective with more tangible results instead of bureaucracy. The UN anticipates the reforms will not only streamline the UN but also facilitate more favorable outcomes.

''Through development and reform, we can mobilize the whole UN system and help countries align their development plans with the UN agenda,'' Liu said. Though he realizes this will not be an easy task.

A key pillar of the UN's 2030 agenda is to eradicate poverty. However, Liu concedes that it may well be impossible to achieve this goal, particularly in Africa. ''African countries cannot maintain double-digit growth,'' he said, explaining that this inability would prevent them from reaching the difficult but noble goal.

Over the past 20 years, China has become deeply intertwined with Africa, granting loans to governments and assisting with large-scale infrastructure projects. Liu said China's association in the region has had unexpected and decisive outcomes.

''China's contribution to Africa is not only confined to bilateral cooperation but has also mobilized and attracted international investment," he said.  

According to him, Japan, India and, to some extent, the U.S. have all found a renewed interest in Africa.

Liu also said China can offer Africa, and other developing regions, more than just financial assistance, adding that sharing information is also critical. He highlighted China's social and economic transformation over the past four decades and proposed that China can help advise developing countries. Rwanda is now widely considered one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the region.

Regarding the critics of China and its association with Africa, which many in the West have branded a form of neocolonialism, Liu said, ''Different comments are quite natural, and the UN is there to help the host country to find the right approach.'' 

He also declared that many countries who initially dismissed the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) were now ''coming around to the idea'' and that ''it will contribute immensely to the UN's 2030 agenda.''

The Point with Liu Xin is one of the main current affairs programs on CGTN. The 30-minute program comments on global news through Liu Xin's very own unique perspective. With two decades of experience as a news anchor and overseas correspondent, Liu Xin has an engaging and personal style. The Point with Liu Xin connects world audiences through social media, enhancing their participation as well as offering a comprehensive perspective on world events. 

Schedule: Monday-Friday
Time (GMT): 13:30, 21:30, 02:30

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