On September 10, the Fifth Steering Committee Meeting of the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was held via VTC. H.E. Ambassador Zhang Jun (Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations), Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti (Chef de Cabinet the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations), Mr. Liu Zhenmin (Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations), Mr. Yang Tao (Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ms. Wang Ying (Director-General of the Department of Administrative and law enforcement, Ministry of Finance) attended the meeting as members of the Steering Committee.

The UNPDF was announced to be established by President Xi Jinping of China at the summit meetings commemorating the UN's 70th anniversary in September 2015. It aims to support the work of the United Nations, promote multilateral cooperation, and make new contributions to world peace and development. The Fifth Steering Committee Meeting reviewed and discussed the overall performance of the UNPDF, status of funded projects, projects to be funded in 2020, priorities of the UNPDF, funding Status and the way forward.

Ambassador Zhang Jun said that over the past five years, the UNPDF, with the joint efforts of China and the Secretariat, has been growing and making important contributions to international peace, security and development. China has contributed 100 million US dollars to the UNPDF which has financed more than 80 projects. These projects benefit many developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. The UNPDF lends fresh impetus to multilateralism, provides support to the Secretary-General's key initiatives, and creates a new model for China-UN cooperation.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted human society in an all-round way. We learned a lesson in such a special way that the world is a community with a shared future, where no country can stand alone in the face of global crisis. Solidarity and cooperation is the only way forward. Looking to the next 5 years, China will firmly deepen cooperation with the Secretariat, defend multilateralism, and build a community with a shared future for mankind through the UNPDF. China hopes that the UNPDF with peace and development as its goals will continue to support the great cause of the United Nations and the world's desire for a better future.

The Secretariat expressed its appreciation to the Government of China for its generous contribution to the United Nations. Since its inception, the UNPDF has been providing support to the UN's leadership in promoting peace and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a strong support for the UN's efforts to address global peace and development challenges.

The Covid-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is a socio-economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis and a security crisis. The pandemic highlights the value and importance of multilateralism and international cooperation. The solution lies in global solidarity and coordination. The Secretariat looks forward to the UNPDF's continued support for a bigger role of the UN.