A letter from Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong outlining the achievements and processes in China for improving livelihoods of the people. Also refer to the more detailed GDI Concept Paper.
Global Development Initiative:
Concept and Progress
Dear Friend, Tena Koe!
I would like to share with you the concept of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and its recent progress.
The GDI, proposed by President Xi Jinping at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly September 2021, is intended to speed up the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the international community and achieving more robust, greener and more balanced global development.The GDI is essentially a public good to promote global economic recovery in the post-pandemic era, and strengthen international development cooperation. I would summarize the purpose and role of GDI into 3 Rs.
Ⅰ.Re-focus the world development attention on sustainable development. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the profound changes across the world, and the uneven global economic recovery, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is under unfathomable stress with 9 years left to meet the 2030 goals. Putting the people front and center, the GDI takes the betterment of people’s well-being and realization of their well-rounded development as the starting point and ultimate goal, and endeavors to meet the aspirations of all nations for a better life.
Ⅱ.Re-prioritize the areas of practical cooperation to realize the sustainable development goals. Eight areas are carved out for special attention, namely, poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19 and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity.
Ⅲ.Re-mobilize resources to boost the partnership in relevant areas and to translate development consensus into practical cooperation, in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and true multilateralism. It is open to the whole world and welcomes the participation of all countries. It will form synergy with other initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative, Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. It will build consensus and pool together the strengths of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the UN, the G20 and BRICS as well as various sub-regional and regional platforms.
China always walks the walk. Right at the General Assembly, President Xi announced that China would step up support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, in addition to his previous year commitment to peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.
China will also provide an additional 3 billion U.S. dollars of international assistance in the next three years to help other developing countries with the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and economic and social development.
Since its introduction, the GDI has been warmly received by the international community, and nearly 100 countries and many international organizations, including the UN, have expressed their support.
January 2022 saw the launch of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative in the UN. The United Nations welcomed “the support of the Global Development Initiative to ensure our world keeps the promise of the 2030 Agenda, leaving no one behind”.
Recently, UN Secretary-General Guterres has hailed President Xi’s Global Development Initiative as one of great importance in advancing the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and addressing the inequality and imbalance in global development.
Both China and New Zealand cherish dearly multilateralism and the aspiration of global sustainable development. China looks forward to strengthening policy dialogue, sharing best practices and undertaking practical projects with New Zealand under the GDI.
Thank you for your attention and please find the attached GDI Concept Paper. Your ideas and suggestions regarding this subject are always welcome.
Wang Xiaolong,
Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand
