October 24th has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948, it marks the anniversary of when the UN Charter entered into force in 1945. In Beijing, a celebration was attended by hundreds of participants, including diplomats, scholars, and business people. CGTN's Zheng Yibing reports, the focus was on implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

A celebration of United Nations Day in Beijing, this year, it's themed with the organization's challenging objectives.

ZHENG YIBING BEIJING "17 booths have been set up here. They are representing 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030."

With 169 targets, the SDGs were adopted just two years ago. Their lofty aim is to end poverty and hunger, combat inequalities, and ensure the lasting protection of the planet.

NICHOLAS ROSELLINI UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN CHINA "Today, we are talking about SDG action, and how we move ahead in terms of implementing all the aspirations in the SDGs. That means leaving no one behind, making sure that everyone benefits from the development, and making sure that the development is sustainable and doesn't harm the planet."

More specific and concrete steps are being taken. The event witnessed the launch of the UN-China Joint Action Plan in north-west Qinghai province. The UN says its staff there is working directly with regional leaders to implement development goals.

NICHOLAS ROSELLINI UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN CHINA "Reaching the remaining poor, vulnerable groups, remote communities, and making sure that they have excess to good social services, and that we identify good employment and income generation ideas, and so on."

The UN official also appraised China's actions taken during the just-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

NICHOLAS ROSELLINI UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN CHINA "It integrated the SDGs into the national development plan, and invests heavily both in China, but also helping other countries in south-south, to make SDGs happen."

China partners stressed the importance of joint efforts. MOTHUSI PALAI BOTSWANA AMBASSADOR TO CHINA "Individually, we could achieve little thing, but collectively, we could create more opportunities."

Officials said that cooperation between the UN and China would be deepened through projects like the one in Qinghai. And that, they said, will set good examples in the years to come. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Beijing.