December 20, Beijing – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the National Human Development Report today in Beijing. The special edition of the report, which analyzes the past 40 years of China’s development, was jointly prepared with the State Information Centre (SIC) and the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University.

2019 marks the 70th anniversary of People’s Republic of China, and 40th year anniversary of the United Nations and UNDP presence and partnership in China. The report reflects on the remarkable changes that have taken place. It takes stock not only of the economic achievements often and widely reported, but, more importantly of the wider range of sustainable human development progress achieved by China. The special edition also follows the launch of the global Human Development Report, which was launched on December 9, 2019.

The launch event featured keynote speeches and policy dialogues focusing on past and future trends of human development, as well as a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the event co-host Phoenix TV.

"Development planning is a crucial component in national development," said Yang Weimin, Vice Chair of Committee for Economic Affairs, China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). "The formulation and implementation of China's development pans [the Five-Year Plans] are an important means to ensure China's economic and social development acheivements."  

A key metric in the China report is the Human Development Index (HDI), useful for drawing cross-country comparisons in human development progress. China’s advances in this regard have been uniquely impressive; it is the only country in the world that progressed from a “low human development country” in 1990 to a “high human development country” today.

According to the report, the sheer size of the country, coupled with the successful outcomes recorded in this period, produces an important set of lessons and valuable experiences that, adapted to local contexts, can be applied in other developing countries on their path towards sustainable human development.

“In the future, we will continue to promote China's human development,“ said Zhang Xueying, Vice President of SIC. “We will provide more research support for high-quality and sustainable development in China and other developing countries, and share China's experience in human development.“

Several policy recommendations were also highlighted to aid in China’s continued human development progress, including ensuring the provision of adequate, balanced, and high-quality public services, improving government capacity for governance in social livelihood, and creating a greener and sustainable environment, among others.

“China must also address the next frontiers in human development, including narrowing inequality between urban and rural regions, as well as within cities. And it must do so while anticipating the impact of technological changes on the future of work and social security systems,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China. “We hope this report will help the world to better understand China’s development, and deepen dedication to human development in China and beyond.”

Download the National Human Development Report – Special Edition here