UN-China to team up to help developing countries achieve SDGs

UN-China to team up to help developing countries achieve SDGs

New York, Dec 6 (Just News): The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Tuesday announced that it was entering into an agreement with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology to embark on a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening knowledge sharing, capacity building and collaboration across countries to help  achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN-DESA Under-Secretary-General Mr. Liu Zhenmin announced that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between DESA and the Ministry of Science and Technology that will work to promote and share national and local experiences, strengthen the capacity of stakeholders (Government agencies, businesses, youth, women and others) from developing countries to scale up science, technology and innovation initiatives to aid sustainable development.  It also aims to encourage joint research and study in areas relevant to green technology transfer and adoption.

At a seminar in Shanghai from 4-7 December, Mr. Liu stressed the need to improve how suppliers and users of technologies in key SDG areas find and connect to each other through online mechanisms.

“They must also be supported by the relevant offline conditions, such as an enabling policy environment, access to finance, appropriate incentives and innovation capacities. This meeting brings together experts from across the world to help us understand how to strengthen both the online and offline components, as well as how they support each other.”

Ms. Marie Chatardova, President of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Czech Republic’s UN ambassador, said the “2030 Agenda calls for efforts to enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on, and access to, science, technology and innovation, and to enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through a global technology facilitation mechanism.  This study visit is a concrete step in the implementation of the technology facilitation mechanism.”

The Seminar, which includes a 2-day study visit to the Green Technology Bank in Shanghai, is bringing together 100 local and international government representatives, experts and practitioners in science, technology and innovation, representing all of the world’s regions. It also includes international and regional initiatives such as the Global Cleantech Cluster Associations (G-HUB) and the Global Innovation Exchange, as well as national stakeholders such as Shenwu Technology Group Corp, Shanghai Science and Technology Development and Exchange Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sinopro IP Management and Technology Transfer, and China Technology Exchange.

 (Just News/ys/1400hr)