The international community should join hands to explore new specific, practical and sustainable development on the basis of the Millennium Development Goals, says an article in People's Daily.

2015 is the deadline for achieving the goals set by the Millennium Declaration, which was signed by the United Nations' members in 2000. The world needs a new sustainable development plan after the deadline expires.

Among the world's challenges, a large number of people in developing countries are living a hand-to-mouth existence, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Wars and political chaos are causing humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Tens of millions of people, a record high after World War II, became homeless refugees last year.

The developed countries promised to use 0.7 percent of their national revenue to assist the developing countries early in 1970. But most of them ate their words.

China's rise proves that self-generated economic success based on one country's strength and potential is more reliable than external aid in boosting its all-around development.

The international community needs to take foresighted measures to promote the coordinated development of the economies and societies of developing countries to ensure they balance growth and stability, and do not go backwards once the external assistance abates.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proposed in his report to the UN General Assembly last December to make dignity, humanity, prosperity, the Earth, fairness and partnership as the most important aspects of sustainable development, which lays a framework for the inter-government negotiations on future development goals.

It is time now for countries to actively participate in the talks, and unite to draw up a road map for the next stage of the human journey.