Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that the Global Development Initiative (GDI), proposed by President Xi Jinping five years ago, has evolved from a Chinese proposal into a widely supported international platform driving sustainable development and South-South cooperation.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative jointly organized by China and United Nations agencies, Wang noted that the GDI had gained significant international backing since its launch at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.
According to him, more than 130 countries and international organizations have expressed support for the initiative, while nearly 100 countries and regional bodies have signed cooperation agreements with China under the framework.
“The philosophy of putting development first has found wider support, and the global partnership for development has gained stronger momentum,” Wang said.
He highlighted the establishment of several mechanisms to advance the initiative, including the Group of Friends of the GDI, which now comprises 88 member countries, and the U.N. Task Force on Leveraging Partnerships Toward the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda, involving over 20 development agencies.
Wang said China had also created more than 30 cooperation platforms to strengthen development capabilities across the Global South.
On tangible achievements, the Chinese Foreign Minister disclosed that over US$23 billion had been mobilized through funding arrangements such as the China-U.N. Peace and Development Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. The resources, he said, have supported more than 1,800 livelihood projects and provided professional training to over 200,000 people worldwide.
He cited projects such as the juncao technology programme for poverty reduction, the Sustainable Development Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1), and the MAZU platform for meteorological warning and disaster prevention as examples of the initiative’s impact in more than 120 countries.
Wang, however, warned that the world faces mounting development challenges, including delays in implementing the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, widening North-South disparities, and growing global uncertainties.
He called for renewed international cooperation anchored on four priorities: fostering a peaceful environment for development, accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting innovation and bridging digital and artificial intelligence divides, and strengthening multilateralism to improve global governance.
The Chinese Foreign Minister announced that China, alongside 28 other countries, had recently launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), describing it as a response to calls from the Global South for more inclusive AI development and governance.
“China is ready to deepen collaboration on innovation with all parties to help the Global South effectively seize new opportunities and tackle new challenges,” he said.
He also reaffirmed China’s support for reforms within the United Nations and called on developed countries to fulfil their commitments on development financing.
Looking ahead to discussions on the post-2030 global development agenda, expected to begin in 2027, he urged countries to enhance communication and coordination to ensure that future frameworks adequately reflect the aspirations and needs of developing nations.
The Minister further underscored China’s commitment to global development, noting that the country’s economy grew by 4.7 per cent in the first half of 2026 despite challenges posed by a global energy crunch and disruptions to industrial and supply chains.
“The certainty China offers is a valuable asset in an uncertain world,” Wang said, pledging that China would continue to align its development with the common good of humanity and advance the implementation of the GDI.
The Global Development Initiative, unveiled by President Xi Jinping in 2021, seeks to accelerate the implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals through enhanced international cooperation, particularly among developing countries and members of the Global South. (GSF)