（December 9th, 2021, Diaoyutai Guesthouse）

Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning.

It is my great pleasure to attend this workshop and exchange viewswith the UN Development System in China on the topic of GDI cooperation towards accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The world today is undergoing momentous changes unseen in a century compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Global economic recovery has been uneven. The pandemic has wiped off the achievements in global poverty reduction of the past ten years. And food security has worsened significantly, as the population suffering from hunger has soared to 800 million. All this poses severe challenges to implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Meanwhile, a burgeoning round of technological revolution and new industries and business forms and models fostered by digital economy, green development and the pandemic has created more opportunities for developing countries to achieve leapfrog development.

At this critical juncture, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), calling for the international community to strengthen global development partnerships and accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda, aiming at stronger, greener and healthier global development. GDI is an initiative put forward by China to support the development of developing countries, promote global economic recovery in the post-pandemic era and strengthen international development cooperation.

The GDI gives top priority to development, and aims to address the special needs of developing countries. Bearing in mind the acute challenges and emerging opportunities in global development, the GDI identifies eight priority areas of cooperation, charting feasible pathways for accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The GDI, in keeping with the 2030 Agenda, calls for stronger global development partnership, supports the United Nations in playing an overall coordinating role in implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and promotes multilateral development cooperation processes, thus contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The GDI is anchored on the principle that no country and no one should be left behind, committed to bridge the north-south gap and eradicate inequality within countries.

Within just two months since it’s proposed, the GDI has been warmly welcomed and acclaimed by the international community. Scores of countries and many international organizations have expressed their support. The GDI has been highly commended by all parties on a series of multilateral occasions, including the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of China and Pacific Island Countries, the Summit Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, and the third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum. This is a testament that the GDI represents what developing countries really want, and meets the common aspirations of the international community to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Colleagues,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China’s lawful seat in the UN. As the largest developing country, China has made development its top priority of governance, fully committed to the philosophy of people-centered development, prioritized and actively participated in the work of the UN ineconomic and social development.China has been among the first of countries to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals and has taken the lead in implementing the 2030 Agenda. For the first time in history, China eliminated absolute poverty, accounting for over 70% of poverty reduction worldwide, and made important contribution to the global development.

China values the crucial role of the UN in promoting the international development cooperation. By proposing the GDI, China intents to call on the international community to support the work of the UN and to place development at the core in the global macro-policy framework, in order to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

This year marks the beginning of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs. Secretary General Guterres said the UN supports the GDI and stands ready to cooperate with China on its implementation. The GDI provides important new opportunities of cooperation between China and the UN, in particular the UN Development System. China is ready to work with the UN and advance the GDI.

First, focus on development. Development is one of the three pillars of the UN and also a clear mandate entrusted by the Member Statesto development agencies. The GDI is designed to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as its purpose. It is much anticipated that all development agencies commit to your role and mandate in expediting implementation of the 2030 agenda, and participate in GDI cooperation with a view to promoting global development.

Second, maximize synergy. We hope UN development agencies could tap synergy between your own work priorities and the GDI, with in mind the pressing needs of member states especially the developing countries. We also hope the UN development agencies could work closely with global, regional and sub-regional multilateral cooperation mechanisms, to create a broad network of global development partnerships and take forward the 2030 Agenda.

Third, deepen cooperation. In recent years, China has cooperated with the UN Development Agencies on a series of cooperation projects through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund. We hope development agencies could leverage your expertise, resources and global network, and continue to mobilize and pool resources from relevant parties in our joint efforts to carry out cooperation projects in priority areas of the GDI under the framework of the 2030 Agenda.  

Fourth, reinforce coordination. Resident representatives of development agencies in China serve as an important bridge of communication between your headquarters and host country. We count on your suggestions and ideas on how UN development agencies can cooperate with China in taking forward the GDI. The Chinese Foreign Ministry will continue to support development agencies in carrying out their operations in China, and explore new areas and modalities of cooperation with you under the GDI framework for win-win results.

Thank you.