Speech by CIDCA Chairman Luo Zhaohui at International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan

Strengthening International Cooperation to Support Pakistan's Reconstruction

Speech by Luo Zhaohui

Chairman of China International

Development Cooperation Agency

At the International Conference on

Climate Resilient Pakistan

(Geneva, Jan 9, 2023)

Your Excellency Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,

Your Excellency Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good morning. 

It's my great honor to attend today's conference. 

I thank the UN and the Government of Pakistan for co-hosting this meeting. Facing the current difficult situation caused by super flood in Pakistan, UN Secretary-General has played a very active role in mobilizing the international community to help Pakistan. Solidarity and cooperation from the UN family are of critical importance in this moment. 

We appreciate PM Shehbaz, who has shown his strong leadership and great encouragement, for leading the Pakistani government and people in combating disaster and calling for international support. 

We are happy to see that remarkable progress has been achieved in disaster relief and reconstruction by joint efforts from the international community and the Pakistani side. But we also recognize that considering the super flood's damage, it does take a long way to reach the 4RF. 

The Chinese government and people are sharing the same sentiments and standing firmly with the Pakistani people. In the wake of the flood, Chinese leaders sent their messages of condolences and expressed solidarity and support. We have provided a lot of emergency material assistance, including tents and food, which were urgently needed. They were transferred by land, air and sea immediately. We sent a medical expert team and a disaster evaluation team. During PM's official trip to China in early November last year, cooperation in reconstruction was one of the major topics between two countries. 

I would like to share my vision as follows. 

First, on behalf of the Chinese government, I am happy to grant another 100 million US dollars for reconstruction programs through bilateral channels to support the 4RF. We have already provided nearly 200 million US dollars for flood relief and reconstruction, ranking top among the donors. We have also carried out projects including smart hydrology, rehabilitation housing and mobile medical vehicles. 

Second, regarding the technical assistance, from 2023 to 2025, we plan to train 1,000 technical staff and officials focusing on disaster prevention and management; We will continue to provide real-time weather and disaster early-warning service; We have provided a post-disaster assessment report after Chinese experts’ visit to the disaster sites in Pakistan. We will be happy to share the experience in reconstruction and engage with Pakistani officials in this regard; We are also considering setting up the South-Asia Disaster Relief Supplies Reserve. 

Third, we are willing to join the International Partners' Support Group. If necessary, we will be happy to host the relevant group meeting. 

Fourth, we urge the international community and UN member countries to continue to join hands with Pakistan. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) in 2021. The GDI aims at synergizing with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To implement the GDI, we established the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund worth 4 billion US dollars. We have cooperated with relevant UN agencies to use this fund for Pakistan’s reconstruction. We welcome more project applications from UN agencies and the Pakistani side. 

The super flood in Pakistan is driven by climate change. China is in action in this regard. We have announced the targets of achieving carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. As the host country, China has made great contribution to the outcomes of the COP15. The international community, especially developed countries, have special obligation to help Pakistan to overcome the flood disaster caused by extreme climate. Developed countries have yet to deliver on their promise of mobilizing 100 billion US dollars per year for climate action in developing countries and to offer a roadmap for doubling adaptation finance. Global climate governance remains an uphill task. 

Friends, 

Last but not least, we wish the Pakistani people rebuild their beautiful homeland and reach the ambitious 4RF at an early date. I wish the conference a success.