Beijing is a livable city

Editor’s note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, and huge changes have been made in Beijing, capital of China, over the past 40 years. We have invited 40 foreign experts to participate in a series of interviews named “New Era, New Insight” jointly hosted by GMW.cn（The official website of Guangming Daily） and the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and share their “Beijing Stories”.

My name is Nicholas Rosellini and I am UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Development Program Resident Representative in the People's Republic of China. First time I came to Beijing was in 2001.

And most recently I came to Beijing to take out my assignment in October, 2016. A lot of changes in that time, 15 years time period, a lot of changes. Over the time, the city became recognized that it developed so fast and particular in the preparations for the Olympics there was a lot of new development in the city in time for the Olympics.

Some very impressive architectural induction that time, my impression was a very rapidly modernizing in urbanizing areas, that’s continued in the two years I been here I have seen continued change.

If you look at the 40 years experience in terms of the reform and opening up, I mean one number that's always stands out is the fact that during this time of successful economic and social development, China has successfully lifted 800 million people out of poverty and that's really outstanding and I don't think it's something with any sort of precedent in history.

But there are many other figures are higher than big number of 800 million I think it’s very interesting also to know per capital incomes both in rural and urban areas went up over a hundred times during the same time frame, which means that the people’s incomes were significantly improved during that time.

I think what is also important because it's not just about the economic gains 40 years is also about the social gains in human development gains I think we had also saw the human development index go up very significantly during the same 40 years.

China is high human development country. So what is impressive me because the economic gains during the period but also the gains in terms of educational attainment, health attainments and human development overall I think that we have also almost been in China 40 years next year will be the fortieth anniversary of a presence in China these sorts of 1979 and we are taking the journey along with China in terms of its development.

It's extraordinarily impressive to witness what has happened and also participate in what has happened, what we've been able to do is to work closely with the Chinese government in terms of pilots and testing new approaches to do pilots in the rural areas in terms of micro-finance, in terms of rural water supply and in terms of many poverty alleviation activities which connected can government itself.

So that's been a very strong partnership over these years, with many successes coming out as I mentioned. It’s also very interesting for other countries many people visit China to learn about its poverty reduction experiences its industrialization experiences

South South program is now very vibrant and grow very fast between China and other countries, we seen recently the FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), I think over 40 heads of states and over 10 heads of governments coming to that meeting and creates a manifestation of the strong relationship with China and other countries.