Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui on the Welcoming Banquet of the 2nd High-level Conference of Forum on Global Action for Shared Development

Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui on the

Welcoming Banquet of the 2nd High-level

Conference of Forum on Global Action for Shared Development

(Beijing Friendship Hotel, July 11, 2024)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

It's my great honor to host today's banquet to welcome you all to participate in the Forum. 

What brings us here today are three key words, namely DAU. D for Development, A for Action, and U for Unity. 

Development. We know that development is the master key to address all the problems. Development should be the highest priority. The UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the largest development consensus by UN family. Three years ago President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI). GDI focuses on shared development and accelerates the SDGs. Blueprints have already been there. But the world is facing big powers' competition, regional conflicts, post COVID-19 economic situation and setbacks of multilateralism. The current geopolitical situation urges us to take action for bringing development issue back to the center of international agenda. 

Action. UN is in action for the Summit of Future, which is on the way following last year's review of SDGs. China is in action too. One year ago, same place and same time, the first GDI Forum was held with participation of more than 150 countries and international and regional organizations. We issued the Beijing Declaration, established the Global Development Project Pool and Capital Pool, and mobilized 12 billion US dollars from domestic and international financial institutions. Within one year, we have made tremendous progress, including implementing more than 500 projects from the Project Pool, out of over 1,000 deposits. More than 160 countries and international organizations attend today's Forum. 

Unity. We should be united as one to take joint efforts for the implementation of GDI and SDGs. UN should be a driving force, Global South and the North countries should work together. NGOs, think tanks, international and regional organizations, private and public sectors also should be on same page. 

DAU is the purpose of GDI and the reason to bring us together here. DAU is also a strong and clear message that the Forum conveys to the world. 

Friends,

Life is short. How to take advantage of our short lives to make the world better? This is a question worthy of thinking and rethinking by all of us. SDGs and GDI should be realized. Joint action must be taken. No country or people should be left behind.

I propose a toast for your health, for a successful Forum, and for our better future.