New Delhi: UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell concluded a visit to China, where she witnessed firsthand UNICEF’s work for vulnerable children and the impact of climate change on their lives.
During her visit, Russell traveled to Beijing and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where she met with government officials, UNICEF partners, and children and families.
In Beijing, according to the UNICEF release, Russell engaged in high-level discussions with representatives from the Chinese government, including the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and the China Meteorological Administration.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to strengthening the partnership with the Chinese government to promote children’s rights, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and respond to humanitarian crises. Russell also visited a maternity ward at Yongning Renmin Hospital, where she observed a UNICEF-supported program aimed at improving newborn health.
“China has made impressive gains addressing child and maternal mortality, lifting millions of children and families out of poverty, and driving progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, including universal access to primary education and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” said Russell.
“China can serve as a role model in reaching global development goals, but challenges remain,” she added.