(Originally published on 04/12/2017)

Norway’s Prime Minister H.E. Erna Solberg led a Norwegian delegation on an official visit to China from 7^th to 10^th April. The main purpose of the visit was to meet Chinese leaders and renew political and economic cooperation with China.

On April 10^th, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech- Sustainable Development: Making Globalisation Work for People and the Planet at the Peking University in Beijing. As Co-chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ms Solberg indicated that the 2030 Agenda and achieving the 17 SDGs are the key points we need to focus on when managing globalisation that can benefit everyone while protecting our environment and climate.

“The young generation has a fair chance of being remembered for eradicating poverty and stopping harmful climate change.” Ms Solberg highlighted that among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 4 – Quality Education is the starting point for linking other goals together and promoting sustainable development in the long term.

Ms. Solberg also met with United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Nicholas Rosellini, and UNDP Country Director Agi Veres at the meeting, mutually promoting cooperation on innovative initiatives for achieving the SDGs. “We need to encourage innovation and innovative partnerships. Innovation made globalisation possible. And innovation will help us manage globalisation in a good way.” noted Ms. Solberg. She emphasized that to better promote the SDGs, both Norway and China need to strengthen cooperation on areas such as climate and the environment, polar research, aquaculture, energy, agriculture and the social sciences. The SDGs are bringing countries of the world together, in a concerted effort to eliminate poverty by 2030.