Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Achim Steiner, administrator of United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with the Administrator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner, calling for concerted efforts in upholding multilateralism and promoting sustainable development.

Li said that UNDP was the first UN development agency to establish cooperative relations with China after its initiation of reform and opening up policy four decades ago.

"Over the past 40 years, cooperation in various fields between the two sides has churned out fruitful results, propelling economic and social development in China," said the premier.

Noting that China remains and will remain for a long time a developing country featuring inadequate and unbalanced development, Li expressed the willingness to align its development planning with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and shore up cooperation with UNDP to make progress hand in hand.

Li said that the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism under the current international situation brings instabilities and uncertainties.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the largest developing country, China hopes to work with UN development agencies including UNDP in upholding multilateralism and the international order with the purposes and principles of UN Charter at the core, he said.

He also called on both sides to jointly address global challenges and help countries to improve the capacity of independent and sustainable development under the framework of South-South cooperation, thus making an unceasing contribution to world peace and development.

Echoing Li's remarks, Steiner said UNDP and China have had a sound partnership and extensive cooperation both in China and other parts of the world.

Steiner voiced his appreciation for China's support for multilateralism and the role of the United Nations, adding that UNDP stands ready to enhance cooperation with China in sectors such as innovation and sustainable development, so as to boost South-South cooperation and share development experience.