Engagement in global development aims to promote cooperation

An aerial view of Qingdao Port in Shandong province on June 6. [ZHANG JINGANG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

China's philosophy and engagement in global development seeks to refocus global efforts on development and promote cooperation amid rising common challenges, an expert has said ahead of a high-level forum on global action for shared development.

The world is increasingly divided into different blocs, posing significant challenges to global development, said Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs of Renmin University.

The lack of coordinated and joint efforts has impeded the operation of global development institutions like the UN and World Trade Organization, he said.

Populism in many developed countries, the fragmentation of global supply chains, regional conflicts and even natural disasters further complicate global development efforts, Wang said.

The lack of effective global cooperation and leadership exacerbates these challenges, making it difficult to achieve a cohesive and coordinated approach to development, he added.

It is urgent to draw global attention back to development, Wang said.

As the 2nd high-level conference of Forum on Global Action for Shared Development is scheduled to be held in the near future, Wang said he expects the conference will call on various sides to focus on development, share development experiences, and seeks to foster a consensus on inclusive and sustainable development, aligning with the United Nations' goals for sustainable development.

In 2021, the Global Development Initiative was put forward by China at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, aiming to steer global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth.

Wang said that the GDI refocuses global attention to development, as development is the ultimate key to solving global issues.

Under the GDI framework, China has provided 100,000 training opportunities for developing countries, with 40,000 individuals already receiving training, according to the China International Development Cooperation Agency.

China has upgraded the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, increasing its capital to $4 billion. Another $12 billion has been raised to support GDI projects.

The CIDCA has worked with several UN institutions such as the UN World Food Programme and the UN Development Programme to implement over 140 projects in nearly 60 countries, benefiting more than 30 million people.

The GDI, along with the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, reflects China's wisdom and approach to global governance, Wang said.

The initiative highlighted China's commitment to advancing international cooperation and sustainable progress, Wang said, adding that by leveraging China's development model, the initiative aims to promote common development with others.

The GDI is to support a UN-centered global governance system, focusing on development issues and promoting an open, inclusive, universally beneficial, balanced globalization, he said.

Wang also emphasized that development is the main theme of the UN as well as the foundation for global security.

"Security is unreliable without development, and only through shared development can we achieve sustainable security."

The GDI not only focuses on development, he said, adding that it also clarifies the relationship between development and security.