Dear Mr. Chair,

Your Excellencies,

As a champion for global development, China earnestly fulfills its responsibility for global sustainable development. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. By calling for international cooperation to forge a global development partnership and to push for stronger, greener and healthier development, the GDI injects new impetus to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

As an important factor in promoting sustainable development and combating global challenges, science, technology and innovation (STI) is crucial in delivering on the 2030 Agenda. President Xi Jinping emphasized in the GDI that we should stay committed to innovation-driven growth, seize the historic opportunities brought by a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and speed up the translation of research outcomes into productivity. Over the years, the Chinese government has pursued an innovation-driven development strategy, put the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda front and center, actively explored holistic S&T-centered solutions to sustainable development challenges, promoted the integration of STI into economic and social development, culture and ecological conservation, and advanced global cooperation, thus contributing Chinese wisdom and experience to global sustainable development.

Eradicating poverty and hunger is top on the 2030 Agenda. The Chinese government, by putting people first, regards eradicating absolute poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as a high priority, and ensuring sufficient food for the people as the primary goal. China has made an all-out effort in poverty alleviation, and vigorously facilitated sustainable development of agriculture. STI has played an important role as an effective means and important model to address poverty. By disseminating advanced applicable technologies in agricultural production, and supporting the establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship platforms in poor areas, China has been a success story in harnessing science and technology for poverty alleviation. In 2021, China successfully eradicated extreme poverty, meeting the target set out in the 2030 Agenda 10 years ahead of schedule. This is a historic feat. By doing so, China offers a good example for global poverty alleviation efforts.

Meanwhile, China has actively participated in global poverty governance and international cooperation on food and agriculture, synergized high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the 2030 Agenda, and helped other developing countries with poverty relief and agricultural sustainability under the framework of South-South Cooperation. The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has launched Belt and Road Cooperation Program on Poverty-Alleviating Technology Transfer, to share experience and practices with partner countries and developing ones. China has launched a Technical Task Force (TTF) program, carried out agricultural technology demonstration and cooperation, and facilitated the translation of advanced applicable technologies into productivity, in an effort to relieve global poverty, ensure food security and deliver a better life to the people. This is an important initiative of China to implement GDI. It shows China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind as a responsible major country.

Combating climate change is another important goal set out by the 2030 Agenda. In September 2020, President Xi Jinping announced China’s goal of striving to peak CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. This shows China’s commitment to addressing climate change. The Chinese government has worked to implement its national strategy on climate change, and consolidated the role of science and technology in this regard. The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has led the efforts in releasing an action plan on carbon peaking and neutrality through science and technology, and facilitated the development and dissemination of green, low-carbon technologies. China has also actively participated in global cooperation on green, low-carbon technologies, implemented an international science and technology cooperation initiative on carbon peaking and neutrality, launched Green Powered Future Mission under the Mission Innovation Ministerial, and launched Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions program, offering science and technology as a public good to global climate governance.

The Chinese government, adhering to true multilateralism, is committed to open cooperation in STI. In 2023, China released the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, calling for open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory international science and technology cooperation, the pursuit of science regardless of borders for the benefit of mankind as a whole, and concerted efforts to build a global community of science and technology. China has launched a globally-oriented science and research fund, and implemented Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan, and boosted South-South cooperation on technology transfer for sustainable development, all in an effort to fulfil its responsibility for global sustainable development.

Going forward, China will leverage the catalytic role of STI, advocate “tech for good” based on a fair and inclusive manner, share solutions and experience in harnessing science and technology for tackling poverty, energy and health challenges and climate change, and pursue open cooperation in science and technology. We aim to make sure that the advances of science and technology and fruits of sustainable development are shared by the mankind.

Thank you.