Highly relevant initiative lauded
GDI wins support of 100 countries and international organizations, including the UN
China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations launched the Group of Friends of Global Development Initiative, or GDI, on Jan 20.
The GDI, proposed by President Xi Jinping, calls for greater international synergy to speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achieve stronger, greener and healthier global development, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, who hosted the launch meeting.
The initiative is committed to practicing true multilateralism, putting people front and center, fully implementing the 2030 Agenda, and realizing the aspiration of all people for a better life.
“The initiative is undoubtedly highly relevant and has a far-reaching impact,” Zhang said.
Since its introduction, the GDI has been warmly received by the international community, Zhang said. Nearly 100 countries and many international organizations, including the UN, have expressed their support.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the Secretary-General Cristina Duarte, Associate Administrator of UNDP Usha Rao-Monari, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Anita Bhatia and more than 20 heads of UN agencies participated and delivered remarks.
Delegates from over 100 countries joined the meeting, including more than 80 ambassadors. They spoke highly of the GDI, expressing strong support and a willingness to join the Group of Friends.
Mohammed said the UN welcomes and supports the GDI, and believes that it will help ensure the world keeps the promise of “leaving no one behind”.
She also mentioned that the GDI “shows China’s continued commitment to supporting the SDGs and looked forward to working practically with the Group of Friends”.
Ambassadors agreed that the GDI is a clear demonstration of China’s firm commitment to multilateralism and the 2030 Agenda.
It reflects the leading role of China in international development cooperation as well as the general call by developing countries for common development.
“China looks forward to working with all parties to implement the GDI, together seize opportunities and address challenges, in order to achieve the following four goals,” Zhang said.
The first goal is prioritizing development. “The GDI prioritizes development and promotes the international community to place development at the core of the global macro policy framework and will provide stronger and more targeted support to developing countries,” Zhang said.
The second objective is to renew commitments to Sustainable Development Goals.
The GDI calls on all parties to strengthen political commitment to SDGs, starting with addressing the most pressing issues faced by developing countries.
Third is revitalizing global partnerships. The envoy emphasized that the GDI upholds the spirit of openness and inclusiveness.
It is open to all countries, and welcomes the participation of governments, businesses, academia and civil society.
“It will promote consensus-building and synergy in the UN and other multilateral cooperation processes and strengthen the global partnership for development.
China is ready to strengthen strategic alignment with all parties, heed useful suggestions and will not create any kind of small circles,” he said.
Fourth is reactivating development cooperation. The GDI calls for mobilizing more international resources to offer support for global development, especially priority targets of developing countries.
The establishment of the Group of Friends aims to seek greater complementarity between the GDI and the 2030 Agenda, support the UN’s work in development and help developing countries fight the pandemic and implement the 2030 Agenda, Zhang said.