Dialogue on Global Development Initiative at the 24th China International Fair for Investment and Trade

A recording of these remarks can be found on Tencent.

His Excellency Mr. ZHAO Fengtao, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank the Global Development Promotion Center of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen Municipal People’s Government and the China Xiamen International Investment Promotion Center for the invitation to speak at today’s very important dialogue.

With just six years remaining to the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals and nearly a year since the commitments at the SDG Summit, progress continues to fall far short of what is required to meet the targets of the 2030 Agenda. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlights that only 17% of the SDG targets are on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress and over one-third stalling or regressing. 

We are still feeling the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated socioeconomic impact, with 23 million more people in extreme poverty and 100 million more suffering from hunger when compared to 2019. The poorest and most vulnerable countries are bearing the brunt of these impacts, as for the first time this century, per capita GDP growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations is slower than that in advanced economies.

Given the challenges we face and the increased inequality that is plaguing our world, the time is now for rapid and aggressive actions to support sustainable development, particularly in the most vulnerable and Least Developed Countries. To rescue the Sustainable Development Goals, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach and countries, international financial institutions, the private sector and others to accelerate their support for the SDGs.

Ladies and gentlemen,

With the launch of the Global Development Initiative in 2021, China has put forward its plan to support sustainable development that has been welcomed by many countries and has the potential to positively impact sustainable development outcomes. We have already seen the impact of the Global Development Initiative with more than 100 projects either completed or in progress benefiting over 40 different countries.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The third pillar of the UN in China’s Cooperation Framework with the Government of China is focused on partnerships, creating and emphasize on expanding and leveraging partnerships between China and other developing countries. The Global Development Initiative has immense potential to play a key role is supporting these partnerships, and we will continue to work to ensure the success of these development projects and initiatives, by providing our best technical expertise, using our convening power, and ensuring projects are demand-driven and follow global norms and standards.

As the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres stated, “The holistic Global Development Initiative is a valued contribution to addressing common challenges and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future.” 

The United Nations in China looks forward to continuing to work closely with and support China International Development Cooperation Agency in the implementation of the Global Development Initiative to ensure that we reach the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and leave no one behind.

Thank you very much.