International Seminar on Promoting Global Development Initiative for a Shared Future

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President Wang,

Vice President Hu,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

I want to thank President Wang for inviting me to speak at this important seminar regarding the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For the first time in many decades, the world has moved backwards in its development trajectory. Poverty is rising, the environment keeps deteriorating and an increasing number of people now face shortages in food and essential public services exasperated by a series of crises we must tackle: the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflicts and rising inequalities.

At the same time, we are also less than eight years away from the globally agreed-upon deadline set by the 2030 Agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Time is running out and we need to act now. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his remarks to the Economic and Social Council last month, “we need to rescue the SDGs and get them back on track [1]”.

Given this context, the UN System will always welcome any initiative from the Member States to mobilize resources and boost support for internationally agreed development agendas. China’s newly proposed Global Development Initiative holds great potential to help the world recover from recent setbacks and accelerate the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

China has a remarkable track record in economic development. Over 750 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty since the country first embraced economic reforms in the late 1970s. The socio-economic transformation that has occurred since is nothing but miraculous. 

Nowadays, as the second-largest economy in the world, China also plays a pivotal role to share its experience, resources and expertise with developing countries. Having served many years in Africa, I have seen firsthand the difference China has made there. As the UN Resident Coordinator in China, it is my highest priority to ensure the Global Development Initiative is able to give velocity and accelerate global progress on achieving the 2030 Agenda. It was the Secretary-General himself who underscored the importance of China’s GDI in supporting the implementation of the SDGs, particularly in the poorest countries, at his meeting during the Winter Olympics with President Xi on 5 February 2022.

Much of what is reflected in the Concept Paper of the GDI is in alignment with the 2030 Agenda. We welcome such efforts, especially through incorporating its’ core promise, to leave no one behind, into core concepts of the GDI and connecting the eight GDI priorities, including poverty eradication, food security, health, climate action, industrialization, and innovation, to the 17 SDGs.

We also commend the emphasis of the GDI on technologies and development financing. Over the past few years, we have seen both the power of digital technologies in keeping the world connected during the pandemic and the remaining dire gap in financing for the world to realize the SDGs. The GDI reaffirms the importance of an innovation-driven development path that mobilizes sufficient financial support.

As custodians and guarantors of the 2030 Agenda, the UN will still underscore the importance of aligning the current concept note of the GDI with key international agreements.  while the 2030 Agenda is one cohesive and integrated agenda, encompassing all three pillars of the UN system: peace and security, human rights and development.

There is equal prioritization of all three pillars along with the principle of Leaving No One Behind, which should be specifically centered on the individual. On this point, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum, which opened in Beijing in December 2021, where he said that human rights are a symbol of human civilization progress. He said putting people first and taking people's longing for a better life as the goal is the responsibility of all countries.

Moreover, the GDI could also potentially serve as an opportunity to advance a series of cross-cutting areas of the 2030 Agenda, including gender equality, youth empowerment, job creation and the protection of vulnerable groups.

Last December, the UN in China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) jointly organized a “Workshop on the GDI Cooperation towards Accelerated Implementation of the 2030 Agenda”. The workshop was attended by over 20 representatives of UN entities and representatives from different arms of the Government of China. We discussed the opportunities brought by the GDI to enhance the relationship between China and the UN in advancing the 2030 Agenda.

At present, the contours of the initiative are understandably still broad, and many aspects remain to be further developed. We look forward to continuing conversations with the Government of China to better align the Global Development Initiative towards global progress on the SDGs.

As said by President Xi Jinping in his address to the 2022 World Economic Forum, the GDI is “a public good open to the whole world, which aims to form synergy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and boost common development across the world”. Our hope precisely is to make the GDI a best-in-class endeavour to support the realization of the SDGs.

Going forward, the UN in China will continue to provide support and expertise to ensure that the initiative is in full alignment with international norms and standards. We are currently discussing the preparations for a second GDI workshop at the UN Compound in Beijing. Meanwhile, we will continue engagement with the international community in Beijing to ensure greater support for our actions. Today’s seminar is another opportunity to bring the international community together and explore how the GDI can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this year we mark a new chapter in the collaboration between China and the UN after celebrating the 50th anniversary of China’s return to the UN last October. At this critical juncture of human history, the UN will stand side-by-side with the people and Government of China to build a more sustainable future for all and to “leave no one behind”. That is the very essence of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Finally, I would like to conclude with a quote from the Secretary-General at the event on the 50th Anniversary of China’s membership in the UN: “The world must come together to strengthen multilateralism and address global challenges in solidarity. [We] celebrate the commitment of all countries, including China – a strong supporter of multilateralism – […] to fulfil the UN Charter and contribute to the achievement of our common agenda for peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.”

Thank you!

[1] https://www.un.org/sg/en/node/262634