Zhang Shaogang (2nd R), Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of China's Ministry of Commerce and Nicholas Rosellini (2nd L), UN Resident Coordinator in China, co-chair a book launch at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2019. The second CIIE kicked off Tuesday at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. (Xinhuanet)

SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Nations (UN) agencies have played an important role in supporting China's development, especially in addressing the issue of multidimensional poverty reduction, said Zhang Shaogang, Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of China's Ministry of Commerce.

Zhang said this at a book launch at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and 40th anniversary of cooperation between the UN and China, Zhang said.

China's economic and social development has made remarkable achievements and people's living standards have been greatly improved, he added.

The book, Excellence in Poverty Reduction - Case Studies on Four Decades of China-UN Collaboration, summarizes the cooperation experience in poverty reduction between China and the UN, aiming to share the development stories among the international community, according to Zhang.

The launch event was co-chaired by Zhang and Nicholas Rosellini, UN Resident Coordinator in China.

Rosellini said the story of UN presence in China is a story of change.

It's a story about the remarkable transformation that has happened in China over the past 40 years and how the UN's role has evolved during the process, he added.

The UN is committed to supporting China's continued development journey as China walks the last mile of eliminating extreme poverty in rural areas, as well as to supporting the sharing of this experience with other developing countries, Rosellini noted.

The second CIIE kicked off Tuesday at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

A total of 155 countries and regions as well as 26 international organizations are attending the expo.

The exhibition area covers around 360,000 square meters. Sixty-four countries will host country exhibitions and 3,893 companies are attending the business exhibitions.