Remarks at Ban Ki-moon Foundation Beijing Representative Office Opening Ceremony by Chairman Luo Zhaohui

Remarks at Ban Ki-moon Foundation Beijing Representative Office Opening Ceremony

by Chairman Luo Zhaohui

(Sept 20, 2024)

Your Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-general, and Madam Ban,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

There are three C words that I would like to share with you, namely: Congratulations, Contribution, and Cooperation.

Congratulations. On behalf of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Mr. Ban Ki-moon and his Foundation. I know, the Foundation focuses on implementing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is the broadest consensus by UN family. Since the establishment in 2019, the Foundation has made great contributions and a lot of achievements to push forward SDGs for maintaining world peace, development and prosperity. The Foundation is getting more and more well-known in the world.

The UN Future Summit will be held next week, which is a part of SDGs. At the same time, regional conflicts and big power competition are still going on. At this crucial moment, the opening of Ban Ki-moon Foundation's Beijing Representative Office for a better future has very special significance.

Cooperation. Ban Ki-moon Foundation focuses on SDGs, especially on climate change, youth and women, and poverty issues. Its main purpose and philosophy are quite similar to those of CIDCA. Three years ago, President Xi Jinping initiated the Global Development Initiative (GDI), to accelerate SDGs. One of my Agency's major functions is to coordinate the implementation of GDI among different governmental ministries. With the Beijing Office's establishment, we have one more important partner. We are on the same page.

Over the last two years, CIDCA has hosted annual GDI Promotion Forum. Mr. Ban joined us on both occasions, sharing his deep thoughts. In the future days, we would like to deepen our cooperation. Mr. Ban is welcome to join us at annual GDI Promotion Forum. Your experience, broad global vision and wisdom will make the Forum more prominent. We could jointly host some seminars to promote SDGs and GDI. We can join hands to make our common efforts to realize the SDGs in many ways.

Contribution. Mr. Ban Ki-moon is a highly respected gentleman with intelligence, energy and global visions. He is a great philosopher and doer. As former Foreign Minister of ROK, he served his country a lot. As former UN secretary-general, he made great contributions for world peace, development and security. SDGs is one of his greatest heritages for the global community and mankind. As Chairman of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia, he continued to work hard for regional development and prosperity. He never stops.

Mr. Ban is a great friend of China. On his different important portfolios, he always pays attention to China. He visited China 11 times as the UN secretary-general. We admire his great contribution.

I propose another round of applause for Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Friends,

Let' s stand hand in hand, shoulder by shoulder for the Community of a Shared Future for Mankind and for our bright future!