Chinese FM chairs ministerial meeting on global development initiative

Xinhua 2022: 09: 22.16: 54

NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) Tuesday in New York.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, issued a message via video link at the meeting, which was attended by about 40 foreign ministers and heads of international agencies.

Wang said that since Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the GDI, more than 100 countries and many international organizations, including the United Nations, have expressed support for the initiative, and more than 60 countries have joined the IDG Friends of Friends.

The group has become an important force for solidarity, coordination and common development, he said, adding that it has also become an effective platform for joint consultation on the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In June, President Xi presided over the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, announced 32 major steps China had taken to implement the Global Development Index, and worked with leaders from other countries to bring development back to the top of the international agenda. Wang said the momentum is to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

He said China is ready to enhance strategic synergy with the United Nations development agencies, and work with other countries in the Group of Friends to take seven more steps to implement the 2030 Agenda.

Specifically, China and other countries in the Group of Friends will release a list of the top 50 projects in the GDI series of projects, covering such areas as poverty reduction, food security and industrialization, promoting special measures to boost food production, strengthening the global partnership for clean energy cooperation, advancing cooperation on “Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart Connectivity”, initiating a global alliance for digital education, launching the Bamboo as an Alternative to Plastic Initiative jointly with the International Bamboo and Straw Organization, and it will be announced that China will share with the world the data obtained through its SDGSAT-1 satellite launched In November 2021.

Wang also called on the international community to make joint efforts to advance the global development index, and put forward a three-point proposal in this regard, including promoting more coordination and effectiveness, and strengthening the leading role of the United Nations development system. , maintaining broad and common consultations. Contribution and shared benefits, pooling collective wisdom and strength, as well as supporting inclusiveness and common progress, revitalizing partnerships for global development.

China will continue to share development opportunities with countries around the world and make common progress for all mankind, Wang said, adding that China will also stand firmly with other developing countries to do its best to promote the implementation of IDG and jointly build a better society. With a common future for mankind.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Wang handed over to the United Nations six sets of data products for global sustainable development, including data on the world’s arable land and forests.

Guterres and the meeting participants spoke highly of Xi’s vision and welcomed China’s 32 practical steps and the launch of the first batch of projects under the IDG Projects Group.

They expect the international community to strengthen solidarity and coordination, support multilateralism, focus on the primary task of development, achieve economic recovery and inclusive transformation and development, create an equitable development environment, and better address common challenges such as food security and energy security, as well as climate change.

After the meeting, representatives of all parties issued press releases outlining the IDG promotion pathways and principles.

(Web Editor: Rosa Liu, Zhao Jian)