CIDCA chairman hosts dinner for guests of 1st high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development

On July 9, 2023, Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), hosted a welcome dinner in Beijing for foreign guests attending the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development. Representatives from over 30 countries and international organizations, including former secretary-general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and his wife, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, and Presidential Adviser of the Republic of Nicaragua Laureano Ortega Murillo attended the event.

In his address, Luo noted that the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being the broadest development consensus reached by the UN family, has only achieved 12 percent so far. China proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) two years ago, aiming to restore the development agenda, build development consensus and accelerate the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Last year, China proposed 32 concrete measures for the GDI's implementation and has started in full swing, achieving important early harvests. In response to the urgent needs of developing countries, China will also set up a global development project pool and a fund bank, he said.

According to Luo, China intends to send three strong messages to the global community by hosting this conference, namely, development, action and solidarity. Development is the highest priority of all countries, action is the only way to reach global development, and solidarity is a must for the global development and action. The three messages mean obligation and commitments, and China is ready to work with all parties to enhance alignment with the development plans of other countries, and jointly plan and implement the GDI and the UN’s sustainable development agenda for a better world, he said.

Laureano delivered remarks at the dinner on behalf of the foreign guests. He extended his appreciation to China for its support to Nicaragua in the country’s COVID-19 response, food security and agricultural development. He commended China for upholding the development cooperation concepts of no strings attached, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit in promoting common development. He said that Nicaragua welcomes and actively participates in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the GDI, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and will join hands with China to strive for the well-being of mankind.

Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development of Peking University, delivered a keynote speech at the dinner. Highlighting that the UN's sustainable development agenda still faces grave challenges and that China's GDI has injected new impetus into the realization of the UN’s SDGs, he called on all parties to double their efforts to fulfill their existing commitments, mobilize more resources and pool their wisdom to jointly promote the realization of global sustainable development.