The Global Development Initiative (GDI) has received prompt response and support from the
U.N. and nearly 100 countries since being proposed by China last September.
As COVID-19 severely impacts the process of global development, China is leading the
international society to focus on and promote development, as well as calling on the world to
jointly build a global community of development with a shared future. It exemplifies the wisdom
and sense of responsibility of a major country at this critical historical juncture.
As a Chinese saying goes, “A man of wisdom adapts to changes; a man of knowledge acts by
circumstances.” The GDI’s wide and prompt response stems from the fact that it addresses the
common concerns of the international society and the people around the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in the world, and the Human Development Index
experienced the first drop in 30 years. As a result of the pandemic, about 100 million additional
people are living in poverty and over 800 million suffering hunger.
The world development is getting even more unequal and unbalanced, necessitating urgent action
by international society to narrowing the development gap.
As another major initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping after the Belt and Road
Initiative, the GDI “remobilizes” the world for global development cooperation and “reconfirms”
the people-centered approach to human rights. It has mapped out a strategy for narrowing the
North-South gap and addressing development imbalance, and has thereby given a boost to
fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The GDI has become tremendously attractive because of China’s successful practice. Since the
country initiated reform and opening up in 1978, it has always taken economic development as a
major task and achieved remarkable progress.
The country adheres to a people-centered development philosophy, and is constantly enhancing
Chinese people’s sense of happiness, fulfillment and security. Pursuing high-quality economic
development, it also follows a new development concept featuring innovative, coordinated, green,
open and shared growth. The country has eliminated poverty and built a moderately prosperous
society in all respects as scheduled, which has further made it a successful example for the rest of
the world.
Prioritizing development and centering on the people, the GDI is committed to inclusive and
innovation-driven growth, harmonious man-nature coexistence, and results-oriented actions. It
carries distinctive Chinese characteristics.
Siddharth Chatterjee, U.N. Resident Coordinator in China, said the initiative explains to the world
China’s successful experience in building a moderately prosperous society. He believes China will
make global development much more inclusive and balanced.
China’s broad-minded perspective has made the GDI widely appealing. China always believes that
true development is development for all, and all countries should join, contribute to and benefit
from global development. It’s not right that only one country enjoys development while the rest
can’t, or a group of countries make progress while other groups don’t.
Since the GDI was proposed, it has been a public product that’s open to the world. It aims at
accelerating the implementation of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
advancing the common development of the world and making global development more balanced,
coordinated and inclusive.
On multiple bilateral and multilateral occasions, President Xi has expressed the hope that all
relevant parties can join the GDI, and he has received active responses. At the Session I of the
16th G20 Leaders’ Summit, he said this initiative is highly compatible with the G20’s goal and
priority of promoting global development. He also said that the initiative has much to contribute to
ASEAN countries’ efforts to meet their development needs and can be mutually reinforcing with
ASEAN Community Vision 2025, while delivering a speech at a special summit to commemorate
the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations.
China’s practical actions are making the GDI well implemented. What makes an initiative vital is
its implementation. Since proposing the GDI, China has been adhering to “results-oriented”
actions. It encourages the world to prioritize cooperation in areas such as poverty alleviation, food
security, COVID-19 response and vaccines, development financing, climate change and green
development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity, among other areas.
The Group of Friends of the GDI was launched in January this year and will focus its work on
strengthening policy dialogue, sharing best practices and promoting practical cooperation. It is
expected to inject important impetus into the implementation of the GDI.
At bilateral and multilateral levels, China is proactively aligning the GDI with development
strategies of relevant countries and regions. So far, the initiative has been docked with the Pacific
Roadmap for sustainable development and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent by
Pacific island countries. African countries also synergized the GDI with the African Union’s
Agenda 2063.
Development bears on the hopes and the very survival of the peoples of all countries. It embodies
the expression of their dignity and their rights. Facing challenges, the mankind must hold tight the
key of development.
China is willing to work with all parties and actively implement the GDI to ensure that no country
or individual is left behind and no aspiration is overlooked. It will make new contributions to
building a world of common prosperity and building a global community with a shared future for
mankind.
