The ILO and China reaffirm the strategic South-South Cooperation partnership in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Beijing(ILO News)—Within the framework of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ILO and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China (MOHRSS) on strategic partnership, the 11th Joint Review Committee Meeting was held virtually on 30 November 2021. The meeting aimed to review the implementation of the MoU and explore the further cooperation area, and included the signature of the third amendment to 2018 South-South Cooperation Partnership Agreement.

Both parties reviewed the joint efforts in response to COVID-19 through promotion of a human-centred economic recovery; discussed approaches to skills development for building forward better towards green, resilient and inclusive growth; explored policy measures on labour protection for workers in the new forms of employment; and looked into future south-south cooperation in a post COVID-19 era.
The ILO and MOHRSS also shared views on addressing key economic and social policy challenges China faces in its move towards common prosperity and modernized socialist market economy. These include demographic challenges, disparities not only in income and wages but also in access to social protection among different groups of male and female workers, and challenges of harmonious labour relations that ensures better protection of workers’ rights and effective social dialogue.

In his opening remarks, after giving global overview of serious impacts of COVID-19 on the livelihood of workers and their families across the world, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder highlighted the cooperation with MOHRSS on employment policy, skills development, new and non-standard forms of employment, social protection, and South-South Cooperation in the past two years.

I believe that China’s ambitious 14th five-year plan, with emphasis on common prosperity, innovation driven quality growth and quality jobs and universal social protection, resonates with ILO’s overall agenda."

Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General

To push forward the strategic partnership between the two parties, MOHRSS Minister Zhang Jinan proposed to cultivate and renew cooperation areas, to innovate cooperation models and continue to carry out south-south cooperation projects.

There is still a long way to go to improve people’s livelihood. But the future is promising. … We should fully implement the Global Development Initiative and ILO Centenary Declaration, strengthen multilateral dialogue and macro policy coordination."

Zhang Jinan, Minister of MOHRSS

The ILO and MOHRSS pledged to strengthen the strategic, multi-dimensional partnership and work with social partners to address the challenges and develop innovative ways for realizing goals of the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work and generating sustainable impacts for not only China but also other countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

ILO Deputy Director-General Moussa Oumarou, MOHRSS Vice Minister Tang Tao together with senior officials of the ILO and MOHRSS also participated in the meeting.