Empowering shared solutions

Determined action, guided by long-term vision and supported by practical solutions, can deliver transformative results

Since the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 70/1, “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in September 2015, the global landscape has been undergoing a profound transformation. We have entered the final five years of implementation of the agenda, and the global development community faces a sobering reality. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals has slowed in many regions, constrained by climate shocks, geopolitical tensions and widening development gaps. This moment however offers an opportunity to reflect on what has worked, so we can scale up proved solutions where they would be useful. From the perspective of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, China’s experience in advancing various SDGs, particularly in poverty reduction, agriculture and rural development, offers important lessons.

China’s Progress Report on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2025) provides compelling evidence of what sustained political commitment, long-term planning and people-centered development can achieve. China has made substantial progress on various SDGs, achieving or approaching achievement in more than 60 percent of assessed indicators by 2024. Several goals have been met ahead of schedule, including the elimination of extreme poverty and hunger, significant gains in agricultural productivity, and major advances in ecosystem restoration and desertification control. For a country with some 1.4 billion people, these achievements are nationally transformative and globally significant.

Agriculture lies at the heart of this story, and it is not surprising that the government is moving more toward institutionalized, long-term systems for food security, poverty prevention, and rural development. Ensuring food security while improving rural livelihoods and safeguarding natural resources is one of the most complex development challenges. China’s story however demonstrates that it is possible to pursue these objectives simultaneously. Through sustained investment in agricultural technology, the development of high-standard farmland, rural infrastructure and strengthening farmer organizations, China has improved its food production capacity, incomes and resilience in rural areas. Grain production has remained consistently high above 650 million metric tons for a decade reaching a record 714.88 million tons in 2025. Agricultural labor productivity has also more than doubled over the past decade, and diversified food systems have expanded to meet changing nutritional needs. These outcomes directly advance SDG 2 on zero hunger and SDG 1 on poverty eradication, while reinforcing progress on climate action and ecosystem protection.

For IFAD, an institution that has partnered with the country for more than four decades, these results resonate deeply with our own experience on the ground. Together, we have supported integrated rural development approaches that link smallholder farmers to markets, promote inclusive value chains and introduce climate-smart agricultural practices. In provinces such as Yunnan and Hunan, ongoing IFAD-supported projects have combined productivity gains with institutional strengthening and environmental sustainability, helping rural households build more secure livelihoods. Through these projects, we continue to generate valuable lessons that we share with other countries facing similar structural challenges that China has faced.

Looking ahead, the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) marks an important transition point. The Recommendations of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan signal a new phase of strategic adaptation, emphasizing high-quality growth, technological innovation, green development and resilience in the face of uncertainty. The focus on modernizing agriculture, safeguarding arable land, strengthening food systems and promoting ecological sustainability aligns closely with the priorities of the SDGs. It is important to note that this will be the final national development blueprint that will be implemented during the period of the 2030 Agenda. The 15th Five-Year Plan is therefore expected to play a critical role in shaping China’s contribution to global sustainable development outcomes.

In the increasingly unpredictable global political environment, the final stretch toward achieving the SDGs requires stronger international cooperation and deeper solidarity especially across the Global South. Domestic progress alone will no longer be sufficient. South-South and triangular exchanges will be essential to sustain momentum, particularly in agriculture and rural development where shared challenges persist.

Over the years, China has undergone rapid development and successfully eradicated extreme poverty, generating a wealth of practical experience that is highly relevant to other developing countries. Platforms such as the China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation Facility, with projects spanning Asia, Africa and Latin America, have demonstrated how these experiences can be adapted to diverse local contexts.

China’s experience in pairing technological innovation with strong public institutions offers valuable insights for countries seeking to modernize agriculture without leaving smallholders behind. This approach will be an integral part of IFAD’s work in China for the period up to 2030 as contained in our joint country strategy. Continued peer learning on climate-resilient farming, digital agricultural services and inclusive rural finance will help accelerate progress in the most challenging areas of the SDGs.

Equally important is China’s emphasis on long-term planning, adaptive policymaking and evidence-based implementation, an approach that aligns closely with IFAD’s focus on learning-oriented investments. As rural livelihoods worldwide face growing climate and market pressures, the lessons from China’s integrated approach to resilience building, data-driven decision-making and inclusive rural revitalization provide a strong reference point for sustaining progress toward 2030.

The road to 2030 is narrowing, and we need to do more than “business as usual” to stay on course. The key lesson we have learned is that determined action, guided by long-term vision and supported by practical solutions, can deliver transformative results. For IFAD, China is not only a valued partner, but also a source of experience and innovation that can help accelerate progress across the Global South. As we enter the final five years of the 2030 Agenda, IFAD will continue to work with China through initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative to scale up what works, deepen South-South cooperation, and ensure that rural people have the opportunity to shape sustainable and resilient futures.

The author is the representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in China, and the head of the Regional South-South and Triangular Cooperation Center for Asia and the Pacific at IFAD. 

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.