By Gabriel Ameh
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for stronger international cooperation to advance global development as the Global Development Initiative (GDI) marks its fifth anniversary.
Xi made the call in a congratulatory letter to a high-level dialogue held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday, September 26.
According to Xinhua, Xi described development as a lasting priority for humanity and a key factor in improving people’s well-being.
He recalled that he proposed the Global Development Initiative at the UN General Assembly five years ago to strengthen international development cooperation and support the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Xi said that over the past five years, the initiative had been implemented in more than 120 countries, with cooperation projects producing what he described as tangible outcomes.
He said the initiative had opened a new chapter in cooperation focused on common development and mutual benefits.
The Chinese president also pointed to what he described as rapid global changes and said people around the world were increasingly focused on development.
As the world’s largest developing country and a member of the Global South, Xi said China was ready to work with other countries to promote a people-centred approach to development.
He also pledged China’s support for advancing the GDI and translating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into practical results.
Xi said such cooperation would contribute to efforts to build what China describes as a community with a shared future for humanity.
The high-level dialogue was held to mark five years since the launch of the Global Development Initiative and to discuss international cooperation on sustainable development.
