For the purpose of preparing for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 20-22, 2012, the Chinese government established a Preparatory Committee in April 2011. This Committee consists of 29 organizations including five core ones—the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. In July 2011, the Preparatory Committee set up a team to compile “the People’s Republic of China National Report on Sustainable Development.” symbolizing the full launch of the preparation of the National Report.
People’s Republic of China National Report on Sustainable Development consists of eight chapters. The first chapter provides an overview of the progress, challenges and strategic plans in the implementation of sustainable development strategies. The second to the fifth chapters elaborate on the efforts and progress China has made in promoting the integration of three pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social development and environmental protection, covering economic restructuring, transformation of the mode of development, human development, social progress, sustainable use of resources, as well as ecological and environmental protection and related actions for addressing climate change. Chapters six and seven introduce the progress made by China in capacity building for sustainable development, international cooperation, and compliance with international conventions on the environment and development. The eighth chapter offers the Chinese government’s basic positions on the objectives and themes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development as well as its basic views on a number of key issues.