The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) launched a scheme
Wednesday to build a "xiaokang" society -- or a "well-off society
in an all-round way."
The program will link the country's commitment to this objective
with the principles of the UN's Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), adopted by world leaders at the UN summit in 2000.
Human-centered development goals and targets that include
poverty reduction, education, health and environmental protection
will be included in the framework of China's comprehensive xiaokang
plan.
"Given the strong convergence between the two, there is a unique
opportunity for China to integrate xiaokang and the MDGs," said
Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative in China.
China's leadership has come up with a blueprint to realize
xiaokang by 2020. It includes raising per capita gross domestic
product to US$3,000 from US$1,000 in 2003, an indicator China
regarded as "low-level and unbalanced."
The UNDP is also trying to improve awareness of balanced
development among 900 senior Chinese officials by providing
training held in China and overseas over the next five years.
"We have already entered an agreement with the Chinese Communist
Party's Organization Department and this was part of the program,"
said UNDP program assistant Cui Jing.
The officials to be trained are at least at vice ministerial
level, said Cui, but she refused to go into further details.
With a combined investment of US$10 million by UNDP and the
Chinese government, the program is designed to help China develop
broader definitions, concepts, goals and indicators of
development.
"Xiaokang is not only about having wealth. The basic principle
is that we protect human health by providing quality environment,"
said Daniel J. Deduk, chief economist with the US-based
Environmental Defense. He suggested that the government look at
regional differences in economic and social development when
outlining environmental protection targets.
NDRC Vice Minister Zhu Zhixin said the program would assist
China in establishing its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006–2010) for
Economic and Social Development.
Zhu said that it is vital to share an expanded vision of
development that vigorously promotes human development as the key
to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries, and
recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for
development.
(China Daily March 24, 2005)