Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

Good afternoon. As we mark the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, I am delighted to join all of you to renew our commitment to the right to development and share insights to inspire actions. Let me take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to the Non-Aligned Movement and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for co-organizing today's event.

Development is a timeless theme for humanity. Only through continuous development can people's aspirations for a better life and social stability be realized. The Declaration proclaims that the right to development is an inalienable human right and lays the foundation to advance the United Nations agenda designed to integrate development into human rights. 

We are meeting at a time when implementation of the 2030 Agenda is woefully behind schedule, and the North-South gap keeps widening. Development has become politicized and pushed to the margins when it is needed most. Division and confrontation is being fueled when solidarity is more critical than ever. 

Meanwhile, people around the world are yearning for stronger cooperation, countries of the Global South are embracing modernization, and a new wave of scientific and technological revolution is opening up vast opportunities for global development.

In this connection, realizing the right to development provides a roadmap to addressing global challenges and delivering a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable future for all. It requires governments of all countries to design and deliver development policies suited to their own realities, while concerted efforts of the international community are urgently called for. Today, I wish to share four points.

First, let us recognize and defend the right to development. The rights to subsistence and development are basic human rights of paramount importance. Equal importance should be placed on different types of human rights. We therefore call for steering global human rights governance onto a more balanced course, and build political consensus for respecting the right to development.

Second, let us reinvigorate partnerships for development. Without development, there would be no human rights to speak of, nor could any enjoyment of rights be sustainable. Development should be put front and center on the international agenda. It is vital for us to foster a united, balanced and inclusive global development partnership to ensure that human rights progress is shared more broadly.

Third, let us improve the environment for development. The legitimate rights and development opportunities of developing countries are anchored in international law. Unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction are inimical to development and must be rejected. What we need is a more just and equitable economic and financial architecture, and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all.

Forth, let us foster new drivers for development. Innovation is the primary driving force for development. We call for speeding up technology transfer and knowledge sharing, closing the digital and AI divide, and accelerating low-carbon transition. It is equally important for us to facilitate institutional innovation in order to create more favorable conditions to science and technology advancement.

Colleagues,

As China's development is closely intertwined with that of all countries, China remains committed to promoting shared prosperity and contributing to the global cause of human rights.

The Global Development Initiative (GDI), proposed by China five years ago, embodies this commitment. It has brought the vision of shared development to the forefront of the global agenda and underscored the vital role of development in advancing human rights.

With more than 23 billion US dollars in funding mobilized, the GDI has supported over 1,800 “small and beautiful” projects, delivering tangible benefits to local communities in more than 120 countries. What began as a vision has been translated into concrete action, drawing broad participation from the international community, and making meaningful contributions to the realization of SDGs. 

Colleagues,

Looking ahead, China stands ready to work with all parties to strengthen international cooperation, and create an enabling environment for the realization of the right to development. Let us join hands to bring the promise of development within reach for all and make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Thank you.