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Remarks by Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu on China's Role in Global Parternship to Achieve SDGs

2018-07-10 11:44

Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It’s a real pleasure for me to join you in this discussion jointly held by CNIE and Mercy Corps.

The world is facing multiple challenges: weak global recovery, sluggish trade and investment, protectionism and backlash against globalization. The multilateral trading system is suffering, and boosting global partnership for sustainable development is a formidable task.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development marks a milestone in the global efforts in this area. It outlines how countries should develop themselves in a sustainable way and work together for the development of the world. Implementing the agenda is a priority in the field of development and a shared responsibility of the international community.

Our time calls for a global community with a shared future. To make it happen, we must facilitate closer exchanges and sound interactions among economies, improve global economic and financial governance, and narrow imbalances in development to allow global growth to benefit everyone. First, more importance should be placed on poverty alleviation, which is a major goal in the 2030 Agenda. More input from countries is crucial for reducing poverty and achieving development. The international community should help developing countries improve capacity in fighting poverty, ensure food security and attain the SDGs as scheduled. Second, a stronger partnership is needed for development. Developed countries should honor their commitments and obligations by supporting developing countries in pursuing a development model tailored to their own needs. North-South cooperation should remain the main channel along with stronger South-South cooperation and third-party cooperation. The private sector and civil society could play a bigger role. Third, we should create favorable conditions for development. Global economic governance needs to be improved based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits among the parties. We must uphold an open and inclusive multilateral trading system and make sure that globalization is open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. The representation and voice of developing countries must be increased through governance reform of international financial institutions. Multilateral development agencies should channel more resources to development. Distinguished guests,

As we speak, international trade frictions are rising, adding instability and uncertainties to global economy. The United States has started the largest trade war in economic history. This violates WTO rules, and will disrupt the order of global trade, trigger volatility in global markets and hamper global recovery. The international community should jointly support multilateralism, uphold multilateral trading system and rules, reject unilateralism and trade and investment protectionism of all forms, and resolutely safeguard free trade and multilateral system.

China is the largest developing country, and development is its top priority. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda has been incorporated into China’s own five-year plan and medium to long-term development strategy. Guided by a vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, China is striving for progress in all fields, economic, political, cultural, social and ecological. In 2017, China’s GDP exceeded 80 trillion RMB yuan, up by 6.9%. Contributing more than 30 percent to world economic growth, China continues to be the stabilizer and propeller of the world economy. China has been advocating cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative which will promote sustainable development in relevant countries. With the common goal of global development, the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda are highly consistent and mutually reinforcing. The Belt and Road Initiative originates in China, but the opportunities and fruits of the initiative belong to the whole world. Featuring openness and inclusiveness and through extensive consultation and joint development, the BRI will benefit all parties involved. The private sector and civil society can play an active role in achieving sustainable development. We look to you to give valuable input to the global implementation of the SDGs and the lofty cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

I wish this meeting a complete success. Thank you.

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