Dialogue on Promoting Global Development

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) for the invitation to address you at the Dialogue on Promoting Global Development.

I also take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and regards to the Chairman of CIDCA, His Excellency Mr. Luo Zhaohui. Thanks to his leadership and strong support to multilateralism  the partnership between the UN and CIDCA  to enhance South South  has grown strong.

The world today is challenged by cascading and interlinked global crises and challenges.

Rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is more important than ever.

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on nearly every aspect of our lives, with over 6.5 million reported deaths. However, the number of likely COVID-induced deaths is much higher, and the pandemic is still not over.

Global health systems have been overwhelmed, and many essential health services have been disrupted, posing significant threats to progress in fighting other deadly diseases.

In addition, more people are now living in extreme poverty and suffering from increased hunger.

According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, the convergence of increased conflict, the continuing pandemic, and the long-term climate crisis, could push an additional 75 to 95 million people into extreme poverty this year – compared with pre-pandemic projections – and jeopardize the SDG blueprint for more resilient, peaceful and equal societies.   

This is unprecedented.

With less than eight years in the Decade of Action, the global community is at a critical moment in its pursuit of the SDGs. We must act now to rescue the SDGs and deliver meaningful progress for people and the planet by 2030.

As the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored at the UN Economic and Social Council meeting on Operational Activities for Development, “We must rise higher to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals – and stay true to our promise of a world of peace, dignity and prosperity on a healthy planet”.

Global challenges need global and inclusive solutions.

Multilateralism, international cooperation and global solidarity is the only path to help the world recover from recent setbacks while accelerating the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China, as the second-largest economy in the world, has a critical responsibility and role in leading through global cooperation in this crucial moment.

We welcome the Global Development Initiative (GDI), announced by President XI Jinping last September and it is a promising response to the call of the Decade of Action to reenergize the achievement of the SDGs worldwide.

The UN family stand ready to provide our best possible technical assistance and support to ensure the GDI’s compliance and alignment with the SDGs and recognized international norms and standards, in cooperation with other Member States.

The UN in China has been proud to be a partner of the Government of China in its rural poverty alleviation efforts over the past decades, and in recent efforts to contain the many impacts of the pandemic on China’s population.

We are committed to working in partnership with our Chinese partners in support of the next phase of the poverty reduction agenda, to protect the gains of the past and tackle a series of new and complex challenges.

Meanwhile, we are also ready to act as a bridge to leverage China’s expertise, experiences and resources in response to our many emergencies and development needs, for the benefit of other developing countries.

Partnerships are one of the three strategic priorities identified for the 2021-2025 United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDCF) for China.

In the first year of UNSDCF implementation, the UN in China has helped to promote South-South Cooperation partnerships, helping to connect the expertise and resources of China to local demands and needs in more than 60 partner countries of the Global South, particularly in the areas of poverty reduction and public health.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The world must collaborate if we are to create the future we want.

I am pleased to see that this event is bringing us together to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead in unlocking further cooperation towards accelerating global progress on the SDGs.

I wish you productive deliberations. Thank you.