UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee Visits the International Cooperation Center

On 3 April 2025, Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, was invited to visit the Jianguanmen Office of the International Cooperation Center (ICC). MA Shengrong, chief expert of the ICC, former Vice president and executive deputy editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, and ZHANG Yu, convenor of the Joint Meeting and director of the Steering Committee of the ICC, met with Siddharth Chatterjee respectively. The two sides discussed the topics of "Strategic cooperation between the ICC and the United Nations System in China", "China and the World in the context of the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference" and "Promoting the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". The two sides said that the international community generally believes that the right direction at present is to give play to the role of the United Nations, improve the global governance system and enhance the status of developing countries. The successful convening of the UN Summit of the Future last September reflects the universal aspiration of the international community to support and promote multilateralism, strengthen the role of the UN and improve global governance.

In April 1955, Zhou Enlai Delivered Speech at the Bandung Conference

Both sides noted that it has been 70 years since the successful convening of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia from April 18 to 24, 1955. 70 years ago, China's participation in the Bandung Conference played a significant historical role in promoting international relations in the right direction, advancing Asian-African cooperation, South-South cooperation, and facilitating North-South cooperation. At the Bandung Conference back then, China's diplomatic stance, ideas and principles greatly consolidated consensus and eliminated estrangements, and also showcased the position, attitude and demeanor of New China's diplomacy. Currently, the world is undergoing profound changes in an unprecedented manner, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Vigorously carrying forward the Bandung Spirit and constantly endowing it with new contemporary connotations, and promoting the building of a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core, holds important contemporary value in leading the trend of the times, shaping the direction of human development, and safeguarding the common well-being of humanity.

Siddharth Chatterjee Attended the UN Summit of the Future China Preparatory Meeting

Both sides noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. In today's world, the profound changes unseen in a century are accelerating, which not only test human wisdom and courage but also make the international community's desire for unity, cooperation and common development even stronger. The Global Development Initiative proposed by China actively advocates multilateralism and supports the core role of the United Nations and other international organizations in promoting global development. By strengthening various forms of international cooperation such as North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, efforts are made to optimize the allocation and efficient use of global development resources, and contribute Chinese strength to achieving the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. As a Chinese solution to development challenges, the Global Development Initiative has evolved from China's proposition to international consensus, from a cooperation concept to practical actions. It has demonstrated strong vitality and broad prospects in actual operation, injected new impetus and hope into global development, and become an important force in promoting the building of a better world.

MA Shengrong met with Siddharth Chatterjee and TIAN Wei

As a window for China's international exchanges and cooperation, the International Cooperation Center has been a long-term strategic partner of the United Nations system in China. In recent years, the two sides have successfully held important conferences and a series of high-level exchange activities, including the "UN Summit of the Future China Preparatory Conference", the "International Dialogue on Development and Cooperation in the Global South", and the "Special Event for Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the United Nations in China". In September 2024, on the eve of the UN Summit of the Future , the two sides jointly proposed and signed the "International Cooperation Initiative for the Future". MU Dong, the Asia-Pacific Affairs Advisor of the ICC, TIAN Wei, the host of CGTN of China Media Group, CHENG Yu, the Executive Secretary-General of the ICC, ZHANG Bin, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Working Committee at the ICC, WU Zhonglin, the Executive Director of the Development Committee at the ICC, and XIN Shaosong, the Executive Deputy Director of the ICC’s Office, attended the meeting.

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Siddharth Chatterjee has served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China since January 16, 2021. The United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest-level representative of the United Nations Development System in a country. He is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and reports to the UN Secretary-General. Siddharth Chatterjee has over 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination, and peace and security. He has worked in the representative offices of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Office for Project Services in Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European countries. In the afternoon of 14 April 2021, UN Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee presented the letter of appointment to the Chinese President XI Jinping in a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator leads the United Nations system in China and all UN organizations operating in China. The aim is to bring together different UN agencies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of country-level business development activities, help the United Nations become a more closely-connected and reliable partner for governments of various countries, and thereby achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) supports the role and functions of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations system in China. The UNRCO provides coordination and support for the inter-agency working mechanisms (including thematic groups) of the United Nations system in China. The main functions of the UNRCO include: strategic analysis, planning and positioning of the United Nations system in China; preparation and monitoring of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework; support for the formulation of United Nations joint programs and business management; policy guidance; joint publicity and communication to enhance the consistency of the United Nations and improve the overall program impact of the United Nations system in China.