Secretariat of Global Development Promotion Center Network holds 1st overseas onsite meeting at African Union

The Secretariat of the Global Development Promotion Center Network held its first overseas onsite meeting at the African Union (AU) Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct 10.

Vice-Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Zhao Fengtao delivered a keynote speech. Tang Ying,  head of the CIDCA's Global Development Promotion Center, presided over the meeting. Director-General of the CIDCA's Department of International Cooperation Li Ming and Minister Counselor of the Mission of China to the AU Lyu Ruihao attended the meeting. 

Zhao said that the China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) has successfully repositioned development issues at the core of the international agenda. He noted that the initiative has witnessed a growing coalition of supporters and has made notable progress, adding that the collaborative efforts of 70 countries and international organizations to establish the Global Development Promotion Center Network underscore the international community's strong endorsement of the GDI and shared commitment to advancing global development. 

He said that he hoped all stakeholders will work together to build this network, engage in collective deliberation, prioritize the most pressing development challenges faced by developing nations and establish a practical and efficient platform for dialogue and consultation. By fostering closer cooperation across multiple levels, broader domains, and larger scales, he called on participants to build bridges and partnerships that promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, address shared global challenges, deepen cooperation among Global South countries, facilitate North-South dialogue and generate momentum for achieving common development. 

Participants of the meeting commended China's proposal to establish the Global Development Promotion Center Network and reached a consensus on adopting the "Working Guidelines for the Secretariat of the Global Development Promotion Center Network". They also expressed sincere appreciation to China for its efforts in advancing the implementation of the GDI, and pledged to collaborate with all development partners within the framework of the network to jointly formulate a development roadmap, share opportunities for growth, and accelerate the realization of the GDI and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Representatives from the AU, Pakistan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates, as members of the network's secretariat, attended the meeting in person, while representatives of other members, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, participated virtually.