CIDCA chairman meets with CEO of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), met with Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, via video link on Nov 17, 2022.

Luo noted that the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is suffering setbacks brought about by multiple challenges, including the resurgence of COVID-19, the lingering Russia-Ukraine conflict, the rise of unilateralism and the worsening risks of inflation. Under these circumstances, China proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which has received support from more than 100 countries and international organizations and is becoming a global common action. To implement the GDI, China took the lead in action, and announced and carried out 32 important measures, which have already yielded preliminary results. 

Luo said that China's concept on global development cooperation is in sync with that of the Gates Foundation, and that China is ready to strengthen communication with the foundation and deepen practical cooperation under the framework of the GDI, including exploring joint research on post-pandemic international development cooperation, financing cooperation between the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and the Gates Foundation, as well as trilateral and multilateral cooperation in health and agriculture in African and Asian countries.

Suzman said that the Gates Foundation applauds China's extraordinary leadership in and contribution to global development cooperation, especially in the areas of health and food security. He acknowledged the agreement in the concept and goals of both sides and expressed willingness to have in-depth communication with China and strengthen concrete cooperation in areas such as health, food security and climate change under the GDI framework, in a bid to facilitate the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.