Thirty years after the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen, global leaders have reconvened in Doha to assess progress and chart a path forward on poverty eradication and social development.

Over the past three decades, 1.5 billion people have been lifted out of poverty, and global life expectancy has increased by nearly seven years.

However, significant challenges remain, with an estimated 800 million people still living in extreme poverty, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Speaking on the role of the UN and on the actions that governments must take to make social development more resilient and sustainable, UNDP’s acting administrator Haoling Xu underscored the importance of rebuilding global trust and solidarity.

He spoke to UN News’ Abdelmonem Makki following the political declaration adoption at the World Summit for Social Development on Tuesday.

UN News continues to provide on-the-ground coverage from Doha.