Yu Xuejun, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), speaks at the 55th Session of the United Nations' Commission on Population and Development via video link on April 25, 2022. [Photo/nhc.gov.cn]

The 55th Session of the United Nations' Commission on Population and Development was held from April 25 to 29 at the UN headquarters in New York City. Yu Xuejun, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), attended the meeting via video link and delivered a speech during the general debate on April 25.

Focusing on the theme of the session, population and sustainable development, in particular sustained and inclusive economic growth, Yu stressed that China has always attached significance to population issues, adhered to the concept of "people first and lives first", and has been committed to the issues of population and sustainable development. Endeavors have also been made to coordinate the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development.

China's average life expectancy has risen to over 77 years. In recent years, the Chinese government has issued a series of documents on improving birth policies and the elderly services in order to realize a moderate birth rate, advance healthy aging and promote sustainable development of population in the long run, he noted.

Next, China will continue to push forward coordinated and sustainable development between population and economy, society, and resources, as well as the environment, unswervingly implement the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to make further contributions to the sustainable and inclusive development of the global population and economy and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.