GDI a platform for achieving progress, equality

The Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations held a meeting for the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative on Jan 20. This is the first cooperation mechanism established by the Global Development Initiative at the UN level since the Chinese leader proposed the Global Development Initiative at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021.

Chinese top leader has already called on the international community to cooperate to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve a stronger, greener and healthier global development, and reiterated such goals in the recently-concluded World Economic Forum. 

The initiative is committed to true multilateralism, putting people front and center, fully implementing the 2030 Agenda and realizing the aspiration of all people for a better life. It is in line with the common values of the world and of great significance to shared development.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded positively and spoke highly of the GDI. He said the initiative is of great positive significance to promoting global equality, balance and sustainable development. The United Nations fully supports it and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed, who attended the launch meeting, said in her speech the initiative demonstrates China's consistent commitment to the implementation of the SDGs. She added the UN welcomes and supports the initiative, and believes the initiative will ensure the international community implements the goal of "leaving no one behind", and the United Nations also looks forward to working practically with the Group of Friends.

Heads of more than 20 UN agencies including UNDP, UNWomen, UNICEF and representatives from more than 100 countries attended and spoke at the meeting. Participants expressed their strong support and willingness to connect with China and promote cooperation.

The establishment of the Group of Friends aims for greater complementarity between the GDI and the 2030 Agenda, supports the UN's work in development and helps developing countries fight against the pandemic and implement the 2030 Agenda.

All parties look forward to using the group as a platform to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China around key areas of the initiative, and jointly inject fresh political momentum and pragmatic actions for the international community to unite against the epidemic, promote post-epidemic reconstruction, and achieve the sustainable development goals.

It is expected the Group of Friends will focus on strengthening policy dialogue, sharing best practices, promoting practical cooperation and undertaking practical projects.

China will continue to improve the group mechanism, deepen cooperation in key areas and build the group into a new platform and public good to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

China is ready to align with members of the Group of Friends, UN agencies and related parties to make full use of the group's platform to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative and inject strong momentum into the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The author is head of the Academy for Global Development at Beijing Normal University. The views expressed are not necessarily those of China Daily.