The second meeting of the United Nations High Level Advisory Group on Economic and Social Affairs is held in Shenzhen from October 16 to 17. [photo/drc.gov.cn]

The second meeting of the United Nations High Level Advisory Group on Economic and Social Affairs was held in Shenzhen from October 16 to 17.

It was hosted by UN Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin. Ma Jiantang, Party Secretary and Vice-President of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), delivered a keynote speech on "China's Economic Achievements and Challenges." The Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, expressed his views on "globalization and multilateralism."

More than 20 representatives of high-level advisory panels and international experts attended the meeting and participated in the discussion.

Ma Jiantang speaks at the meeting. [photo/drc.gov.cn]

The second meeting of the High-level Advisory Group focused on new challenges and solutions in multilateralism in the current international situation. The conference set up four sessions with the theme of globalization and multilateralism, China's economic and social impact and inequality, and sustainable development financing in an interdependent global environment.

The outcome of this high-level advisory group meeting will help the top management of the UN to better position the world's leading economic and social issues so that member states can realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The high-level advisory group was convened by UN Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin under the guidance of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. A total of 16 members were selected globally in the economic and social fields, including some former government officials, senior officials, and Nobel laureates. Group members have a two-year term.

The second meeting of the United Nations High Level Advisory Group on Economic and Social Affairs is held in Shenzhen from October 16 to 17. [photo/drc.gov.cn]

The high-level advisory group holds two closed-door meetings each year, and the panellists contribute to the UN economic and social affairs involving global economic and social development issues to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The first meeting was held in New York City in July this year, with topics on the global economic outlook, cutting-edge technology development, globalization, inequality and immigration issues.

The meeting was co-sponsored by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the China International Development Knowledge Center and co-organized by the Shenzhen municipal government and the DRC.