Development key to global agenda: Han
Beijing wants true multilateralism and open world economy, says VP
The Global Development Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, aims to promote more robust, greener, and healthier global development. HAN ZHENG Chinese vice-president
China advocates putting development at the core of the global agenda while building an open world economy devoid of decoupling and disruption of supply chains, Vice-President Han Zheng said at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept 19.
Speaking at a leaders’ dialogue during the two-day Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, which ended on Sept 19, Han also said global development is facing severe challenges. His remark echoed an assessment by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that, halfway to the deadline of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, only 15 percent of the targets are on track.
The 2023 SDG Summit, held during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, gathered world leaders to reaffirm their collective commitment to the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which represent a global promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet.
In addition, Han said the Global Development Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, aims to promote more robust, greener, and healthier global development.
“China implements the 2030 Agenda in tandem with its national medium- and long-term development strategies, and always integrates its own development with global prosperity and stability,” Han said.
To accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Han underscored the need to safeguard and practice true multilateralism and to support the UN in playing a coordinating role in the implementation of the agenda.
That includes efforts to promote the exchange of development ideas, the alignment of policies, and the matching of resources among countries, as well as ensuring that the fruit of development benefits every country and individual.
The vice-president also emphasized building an open world economy.
“It is imperative to advocate openness and inclusiveness, oppose decoupling and disruption of industrial and supply chains, create a favorable external environment for the development of developing countries, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance,” he said.
Han also highlighted the role of technology and the need for a global partnership for development.
He said countries should deepen practical cooperation in the fields of green development, new industrialization, and digital economy to promote the fulfillment of carbon peak and carbon neutrality pledges in a scientific and orderly manner.
To revitalize the global partnership for development, Han said, developed countries should fulfill their commitments to development aid and climate financing while developing countries should deepen South-South cooperation.
“It is necessary to fully mobilize the forces of all sectors of society and forge a synergy to promote development,” he said.
China will help the countries of the developing Global South with concrete actions and continue to work with all sides to make positive contributions to achieving the sustainable development goals on schedule and building a global development community, he added.
UN Secretary-General Guterres, speaking at the close of the summit, said the political declaration adopted on Sept 18 left world leaders with “a to-do list” to turn words into action to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We must make the most of this summit’s momentum to spur progress in the months ahead,” he said.
Calling for the formation of a leaders’ group to deliver clear steps that will enable the $500 billion per year needed for sustainable development to start flowing before the end of 2024, he also urged developed countries to finally meet their official development assistance target of 0.7 percent of gross national income, according to a news release.