Hangzhou, 9 July<\/b> —<\/i> Today the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the International Centre for Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) in Hangzhou, as part of his official visit to China.<\/p>\n
The centre which provides technical expertise and capacity building for the United Nations Development Programme\u2019s \u00a0(UNDP) renewable energy technology transfer projects in Ghana<\/a>and Zambia<\/a>, held a session on South-South Cooperation to highlight how China\u2019s knowledge and expertise can be used to address the growing need for renewable energy through south-south cooperation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe centre and its partners are good examples of how organisations can form partnerships through south-south cooperation to help achieve the sustainable development goals\u201d, said the Secretary-General during his opening remarks. \u201cInnovative trilateral cooperation projects, such as the Renewable Energy Technology Transfer project is a good examples of your centre\u2019s dedication to supporting goal number 17 (Partnerships for the goals)<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n China is increasingly playing a pioneering role in engaging its partners through South-South and trilateral cooperation on the basis of mutual learning, win-win cooperation, trust and respect. UNDP\u2019s trilateral cooperation projects<\/a> provide support and access to electricity for rural communities in Zambia and Ghana, through the creation of an enabling environment for renewable energy technology deployment and up-scaling. ICSHP is a key stakeholder and resource, providing expertise and capacity building to help countries address the urgent need for clean energy.<\/p>\n \u201cSmall Hydropower provides a practical solution to the rural electrification as well as poverty alleviation, economic growth and climate change mitigation in the developing countries\u201d highlighted Professor Cheng Xialei, Director-General of ICSHP.<\/p>\n Addressing climate change is a top priority for the United Nations, with the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasizing the importance of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)<\/a> to mitigate the impacts of climate change around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cSouth-South cooperation for climate change and other thematic areas offers a unique opportunity to share China\u2019s knowledge to make the world a better place\u201d noted Patrick Haverman, Deputy Country Director for UNDP China during the session.<\/p>\n The Secretary-General is on an official visit to China<\/a> from 6-10 July, to meet\u00a0with President Xi Jinping as well as other senior officials, including Premier Li Keqiang, State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.<\/p>\n About the International Centre on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP)<\/b><\/p>\n