H.E. Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong published the third in a series of signed articles titled “Promoting Global Development Initiative: Building a Better Future Together”, in the English-language mainstream media Daily News. Full text is as follows:
Development is an eternal theme of humanity and the common aspiration of people of all countries. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, drawing a blueprint for global development. Currently, world economic recovery is weak. North-South gap keeps widening. Development cooperation is losing steam. And the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is facing unprecedented challenges.
At the crucial moment when the cause of global development was at a crossroads, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2021, aiming to build consensus, mobilize resources, take actions and forge synergy for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at a faster pace. The GDI responds to the call of the times, meets the needs of various countries, and thus provides China’s input to the cause of global development.
Over the past two years, China has fulfilled its promises and set an example in advancing the GDI to deliver concrete results. Consensus on development was thus built, resources mobilized optimized, and development problems solved for the international community. This demonstrates China’s role and responsibility as an advocate of global development in the new era and an actor for development cooperation.
First, building development consensus. China has held the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, the Ministerial Meeting of the “Group of Friends of the GDI” and other events, working with emerging markets and developing countries to get the global development cause back on track. So far, more than 100 countries and international organizations, including the UN, have expressed support for the Initiative, and more than 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends, effectively building international consensus on development priority.
Second, jointly deepening cooperation. 41 countries, regions and international organizations joined hands to advance the construction of the “Global Development Promotion Center Network”. Nearly 30 countries and international institutions signed memorandum of understanding with China, and worked to align major development strategies in relevant countries and regions with the Initiative. China pursues openness and inclusiveness, and encourages trilateral cooperation. Some developed countries and more international institutions joined the Initiative cooperation.
Third, increasing input in development. The GDI Project Pool established by China has included nearly 200 practical cooperation projects, covering more than 60 developing countries. The funding platform with diverse participation has taken shape. The Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund actively support project financing. The Gates Foundation and other private foundations, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other multilateral financial institutions also take part. In August 2023, President Xi Jinping announced in South Africa that China was to launch a special fund of 10 billion US dollars, dedicated to implementing the Initiative.
Fourth, creating a “toolbox”. China helps developing countries break through development bottlenecks, the Food Production Enhancement Action launched, the “Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership” established, the International NGOs Network for Poverty Reduction Cooperation launched and the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center opened. Through more than 1,000 capacity-building projects, China provided more than 40,000 training opportunities for developing countries.
The GDI has received widespread positive responses, because it reflects the strong call of the majority of developing countries to prioritize development issues in the international cooperation agenda. China believes in the principle that development is the ‘top priority’ and always follows the logic of action that China’s development and the world’s development are interconnected, complementary and reciprocal. Therefore, we promote common development and generate opportunities for all while seeking our own. In the past decade, China’s contribution to world economic growth has averaged up to 38.6%. In 2023, China’s GDP grew by 5.2% year-on-year, among the top in the world’s major economies. China’s exports maintained a stable share in the international market, and the import-export growth rate of countries along the “Belt and Road” was close to double digits. The fundamentals of China’s long-term economic growth have not changed. We believe that as China’s high-level opening-up progresses, the advantages of a super-large-scale market and the potential of domestic demand will continue to be released, and China will surely add strong momentum to the global economic recovery and growth.
On the path toward development, no country or individual should be left behind. This is the pure vision of the GDI, and the goal upheld by the UN. China and Sri Lanka enjoy a strong friendship, a fraternal bond, and a fruitful partnership. As developing countries, we both face the challenge of advancing our economic and social development and enhancing our people’s well-being. We also share a wide-ranging agreement on development issues. China looks forward to working together with Sri Lanka and other countries to promote the GDI in a sound and steady manner, and make fresh contribution to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, deepening cooperation on global development and building a community with a shared future for mankind!