CIDCA vice-chairman meets with president of IFAD

Zhao Fengtao, vice-chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), met with visiting President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario on June 6, 2023.

Zhao noted that at present, the majority of developing countries are facing stalled development due to multiple factors, and achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is suffering setbacks. China proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) two years ago at the UN, which fully synergizes with the SDGs, he said, adding that China has taken the lead in implementing the initiative in an all-round way and has achieved significant preliminary results. So far, over 200 projects under the GDI, which focuses on the eight major areas of greatest concern to all countries, have been implemented, benefiting over 60 developing countries, he said. China has also established a project pool and a financing pool for the GDI in order to tap all resources for the implementation of projects, according to Zhao.

Zhao said that China and the IFAD both boast extensive experience in assisting developing countries in such areas as agricultural development, poverty alleviation and improving people's livelihoods, and share similar visions and means in development cooperation. Cooperation between the two sides will be a powerful driving force and poses huge potential, he added. China attaches importance to policy exchanges, but more to actions, Zhao said, adding that China is ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with the IFAD in terms of policy, financing and projects.

Lario said that throughout the 40 years of the IFAD in China, it has witnessed China's tremendous achievements and the earth-shaking changes in its economy and society. China's development has provided persuasive and feasible reference for other developing countries to achieve independent development, and played an important demonstrative role. The IFAD lauds the China-proposed GDI, recognizing that it fully synergizes with the UN's SDGs and has achieved positive results with tangible investment. He agreed that the two sides are in sync in their visions and enjoy great potential for cooperation. He stated that the IFAD is willing to work with the CIDCA to fully tap their respective advantages in resources, practice and networks, and explore trilateral cooperation in such areas as poverty alleviation and food security, as well as in co-financing cooperation, in a bid to jointly promote sustainable global development.

Director-General of the CIDCA's Department of International Cooperation Xu Wei, Associate Vice-President of the IFAD Wu Guoqi, the IFAD Representative to China Nii Quaye-Kumah, and Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture Mei Hongyong also attended the meeting.