From April 29 to 30, Yu Xuejun, vice-minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), led a delegation to the 57th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Population and Development held at the UN headquarters in New York.

Yu delivered a speech at the general debate, noting that the Chinese government adheres to a people-centered development concept, adopts a working philosophy and methods that align with the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action, and has embarked on a path of population development with Chinese characteristics.

In response to the new development situations with regard to population, China has optimized its population development strategy and constantly improved its policy supporting system for fertility to advance Chinese modernization through high-quality population development, he said.

As the world today faces new challenges in population and development, China will actively deepen exchanges and cooperation with other parties and work together to achieve the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals at an early date, he added.

During the session, Yu attended the side events on implementing the ICPD Programme of Action and achieving the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals amid a "new normal", as well as on South-South cooperation and multilateral cooperation, and an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the ICPD Programme of Action. He also met with Diene Keita, deputy executive director of UN Population Fund.