Address by Chairman Chen Xiaodong at the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative

Chen Xiaodong, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, delivered a speech at the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative in New York, the United States, on Sept 23.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Address by H.E. Chen Xiaodong

Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency

At the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative

New York, September 23, 2025

Your Excellency China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Fu Cong,
Your Excellency Vice-President Long Guoqiang of the Development Research Center of the State Council of China,
Your Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe of the Republic of Zambia,
Your Excellency Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla of the Republic of Cuba,
Your Excellency Director-General Gerd Müller of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization,
Your Excellency Dean Xue Lan of Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's my pleasure to gather with you at the United Nations headquarters in New York to discuss development and cooperation. Premier Li Qiang stated that China stands ready to work with all parties to further implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI), advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at a faster pace, and reinvigorate global development, and stressed that we must remain committed to development, dedicate all our efforts to it and work together to make the pie bigger. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and leaders of concerned countries and international organizations responded actively, which injects great confidence into our joint efforts against development deficits, digital divide and green challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Development remains one of the UN's three pillars. As a responsible major country, China has always been a staunch supporter of the UN and an active practitioner of global development endeavors. To advance the implementation of the GDI and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China has kept its word and been resolute in its actions.

First, we led the development direction. In 2022, President Xi Jinping hosted the High-level Dialogue on Global Development and proposed a series of major measures to advance the implementation of the GDI. China also established the Global Development Promotion Center to press ahead with the endeavor and trained 150,000 talents in various fields for developing countries. In 2023, President Xi announced at the "BRICS Plus" Leaders' Dialogue the decision to launch a $10 billion fund dedicated to the implementation of the GDI. Premier Li attended the BRICS Summit this July and unveiled the "Digital South" initiative under the GDI, and he proposed new implementation measures in his speech today. These moves charted the course for and injected momentum into the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Second, we implemented practical projects. China upgraded the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and increased the fund to $4 billion. Based on that, China cooperated with more than 20 international organizations to implement over 180 projects in over 60 countries, benefiting more than 30 million people. The Global Development Project Pool and Capital Pool were established to attract various entities to participate through innovative ways including cooperative fundraising, targeted donation and beneficiaries' fund contribution. A special fund worth $14 billion was raised to advance GDI projects. Major and small projects were coordinately advanced, creating several global famous brands such as Juncao, hybrid rice and Luban Workshop.

Third, we built cooperation platforms. In 2023 and 2024, China hosted two sessions of High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, attracting more than 2,000 representatives from over 160 countries, regional and international organizations. The Global Development Promotion Center established a comprehensive network, with more than 80 countries, regional and international organizations involved, creating an innovative platform for aligning policies, promoting projects, coordinating resources, and enhancing partnerships. The China-Africa (Ethiopia)-UNIDO Centre of Excellence was built to enhance cooperation among the three parties and to support industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent cultivation in Africa.

Fourth, we intensified our partnerships. China started the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative at the UN, attracting participation of more than 80 countries, thus building a key mechanism for GDI implementation and a bridge for multi-party coordination. The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) has signed cooperative documents on GDI implementation with more than 80 countries, regional and international organizations, as well as domestic and foreign financial institutions, and issued the joint statement on enhancing cooperation under the framework of the GDI with the African Union and 53 African countries. The CIDCA has also discussed and conducted bilateral and multilateral international development cooperation with developed countries like Germany and Singapore and emerging economies like Brazil.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

President Xi noted that development is the key to solving all problems. Standing on the new historic starting point of the UN's 80th anniversary, we should keep our original aspiration of pursuing development, grasp opportunities while fending off dangers, advance a new paradigm while standing steady on changes, form synergy through cooperation and promote development with practice, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

First, we need to give top priority to development. China stoutly supports putting development at the center of the international agenda, advocates the UN's key role in coordinating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and supports the UN's reform to prioritize development via mechanism and resources allocation and to strengthen the representation and voice of developing countries in development governance. China will continue to pool more resources for global development cooperation and form synergy to boost development.

Second, we need to focus on people's wellbeing. President Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting, calling for efforts to maintain that people of all countries are equal participants and beneficiaries in global governance and to bridge the development gap between developed and developing countries. The international community should prioritize the allocation of development resources to people's livelihoods, ensuring that the fruits of development are fairly shared among all humanity. China will conduct more "small yet smart" livelihood projects with quick effect to benefit residents in need from developing countries and to enhance these countries' independent development capacity.

Third, we need to uphold harmonious coexistence. We should actively respond to global challenges like climate change, improve global environmental governance and achieve green development. Developed countries are obliged to honor their commitment on cutting carbon emissions and make up the annual $100 billion climate fund gap. China will continue to channel more resources to green development and conduct more cooperative projects in the fields of renewable energy, ecological protection, blue economy and early alarm to disasters to protect our planet.

Fourth, we need to stick to innovation-driven development. We should construct an open, inclusive and fair environment without any discrimination to develop science and technology, enhance technological cooperation and knowledge sharing, and prevent the development gap caused by technological monopoly and digital hegemony. China will strengthen international cooperation in emerging fields such as digital economy, digital connectivity and artificial intelligence, so as to promote the "Digital South" initiative.

Fifth, we need to prioritize quality in our cooperation. We should make our cooperation more efficient and sustainable by solving problems and reaping achievements. Cooperation should be promoted in light of local development demand and transformed into tangible results. China will improve supervision and evaluation of international development cooperation projects to promote international cooperation in a fairer, cleaner and more efficient way.

Thank you!