On the morning of November 29, 2017, the "Meet SDGs" High-End Forum, hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, Tsinghua University (TUSDG), was successfully held in the Auditorium Hall of the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University (SPPM).

The Forum has invited Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International and former Prime Minister of Denmark, and Dr. Marielza Oliveira, UNESCO Representative to China to attend the Forum and give their speeches. Professor Xue Lan, Dean of SPPM and Director of TUSDG, moderated the dialogue session between the guests. Prof. Zhu Xufeng, Associate Dean of SPPM and Executive Director of TUSDG, moderated the opening ceremony of the Forum.

Other attendees include Mr. Findlay Lliam Marco, Policy and Advocacy Advisor to the CEO of Save the Children International, Ms. Dollimore Helena Eileen Bowlby, Press Assistant to the CEO of Save the Children International, Dr. Wang Chao, Head Representative for China, Save the Children International, Ms. Qian Xiaofeng, Director of Strategic Development of Save the Children International in China, Mr. Robert Parua, Education Program Specialist of UNESCO Beijing Office, and nearly 100 students and faculty members.

At the beginning of the Forum, Prof. Xue Lan presented the Appointment Letter of International Advisory Committee Member of TUSDG to Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt as, on behalf of Yang Bin, the Chairman of the Board of Director of TUSDG.

Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt during her speech

Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt began by expressing her appreciation for China's efforts in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Her speech focused on three goals of the SDGs - No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Good Health and Wellbeing. She pointed out that it is the responsibility of every nation and every individual. She also pointed out the challenges currently faced in implementing the SDGs: (1) insufficient funding; (2) difficulty in tracking and measuring the effectiveness of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets in practice; and (3) the speed at which countries have been implementing since the introduction of the SDGs in 2015 needs to be improved. We need strong supports to achieve the goals by 2030. In response to the above challenges, she expressed her confidence in China in sharing its experience, aiding other countries, and jointly working to achieve the global goals.

Dr. Marielza Oliveira during her speech

Dr. Marielza Oliveira pointed out the problems in achieving the SDGs, for instance, gender inequality, and protection of marginalized groups, etc. She argued that it is not only the obligation of governments to address those issues, but also the responsibility of everyone to strengthen international cooperation and move firmly towards a more prosperous, sustainable, and just world.

Zhu Xufeng, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Marielza Oliveira, and Xue Lan (from left to right)