On September 26, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, briefed the media on Vice President Han Zheng’s attendance at the General Debate of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and high-level events. During the briefing, he highlighted the implementation of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping and the High-level Meeting on GDI Cooperation Outcomes hosted by China.

Ambassador Zhang said that in September 2021, President Xi Jinping put forward the GDI at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly. The Initiative was warmly received by the international community and actively supported by the developing world and international organizations including the United Nations. On September 19, China held the High-level Meeting on GDI Cooperation Outcomes at the UN Headquarters. President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis delivered a video message, and Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who was on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, addressed the meeting. Leaders from Pakistan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Russia, and Laos, as well as ministers from more than 20 countries delivered remarks at the meeting. More than 300 representatives from the Group of Friends of the GDI, G77, and relevant international organizations participated in the event. This “home-ground event away from home” was a great success and became another highlight of the Chinese delegation’s participation in this year’s UNGA high-level week.

Ambassador Zhang said that, as the first leadership-level event on GDI at the UN after the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the high-level meeting has received great attention from all parties. Vice President Han Zheng attended the meeting and delivered opening remarks, in which he reviewed the fruitful outcomes of the GDI over the past two years, and put forward a four-point proposal on accelerating the SDGs implementation. Participants congratulated the important progress made by the GDI, and spoke highly of the GDI’s important contributions to building consensus on development and advancing the 2030 Agenda. They all expressed their expectations for deep participation in the GDI cooperation, adherence to multilateralism, and revitalization of the global development agenda.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that the UN is an key partner and key platform for GDI implementation. At present, the implementation of the Initiative has made positive progress. The Group of Friends launched by China now has more than 70 member states. Members of the Group have actively engaged in policy exchanges, experience sharing, and practical cooperation, and have made joint statements at many important UN meetings, sending strong messages that prioritize development and focus on cooperation. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen communication and coordination with the members of Group, deepen exchanges and cooperation with the UN and its development agencies, make full use of the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, and other mechanisms to promote the GDI implementation in an efficient and pragmatic manner, and help countries implement the Sustainable Development Goals. In doing so, we aim to promote common development and build a common future where no country and no one is left behind.