The United Nations (UN) Symposium on the Integrated Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals opened on Tuesday in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

At the three-day meeting, participants will discuss ways in which to "advance integrated implementation", and identify the weaknesses of current implementation policies, said Joanne Disano, director of the division for sustainable development of the UN at the opening ceremony.

World leaders have assumed "a collective responsibility to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development -- economic development, social development and environment protection -- at the local, national, regional and global levels". This was agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which was held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, said Disano.

"It is encouraging that from then on, people around the world have begun to embrace the concept of sustainable development. I am especially impressed by the achievements made by the Chinese government in this respect," said Disano.

About 150 officials, experts, business executives and representatives of international organizations from more than 30 countries and regions are attending the symposium.

The event is co-sponsored by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Jiangxi provincial government.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2005)