China implements GDI to improve quality and efficiency of foreign aid

The four global initiatives, especially the Global Development Initiative (GDI), are the strategic guidance of China's foreign assistance. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) emphasizes that "China will promote global cooperation in poverty reduction, strengthen the construction and full-chain management of its foreign aid system, and increase the scale of its foreign aid efforts."

Amid the new international landscape, China is advancing the transformation of its foreign aid from providing pure assistance to engaging in development cooperation as it implements the GDI and seeks to improve the quality and efficiency of its foreign assistance.

Prioritizing people's livelihoods with "small yet smart" projects

China prioritizes improving people's livelihoods in its foreign assistance and adopts a people-centered approach to enhance the quality and efficiency of its foreign aid.

A series of cooperation projects have been launched to benefit people's lives. The projects are easily replicable and promotable, and are tailored to local people's needs in life and production. In this way, the inner momentum for development in recipient countries is cultivated.

By the end of 2023, China had promoted over 300 advanced agricultural techniques through its agricultural technique demonstration centers in Africa, benefiting over 1 million small rural households.

The pervasive "small yet smart" projects helped improve residents' lives in a fast and economical way, and addressed urgent and difficult issues for them. These projects can enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security among local populations, thereby becoming a highlight of China's foreign assistance.

Adhering to human-nature harmony and strengthening assistance for green development

The harmony between people and nature is a key principle of the GDI and a major goal of China's foreign aid. China advocates building a clean and beautiful world, actively fulfills international responsibilities and enriches the supply of international public goods that are environmentally friendly. China uses a specialized foreign aid system and a full-chain management procedure to extend its assistance for green development such as clean energy, pollution control, climate change response, biodiversity protection and sustainable agricultural development. Various methods, including material supply, concessional loans, technical support and development funds, are employed to launch more green development assistance projects with larger investment.

China-aided projects such as the 35-megawatt photovoltaic power station in Cuba and the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant in Bangladesh have effectively improved local power supply and water environment, demonstrating China's commitment to sustainable development.

Emphasizing self-reliant development by advancing human resource development cooperation

Human resource development cooperation is key to enhancing recipient countries' self-development capabilities, as many Global South countries have abundant labor but have a shortage of skilled personnel and governance capabilities.

Alongside infrastructure development, China places greater emphasis on talent cultivation in its foreign assistance. Considering recipient countries' resource and development conditions, China shares applicable technologies and experiences to meet their needs and also helps them cultivate local talent through a multi-layered, systematic training system.

China's foreign aid projects related to education spans multiple sectors, ranging from the Luban Workshop for vocational technique sharing to "China-Africa 100 Universities Cooperation Program" for high-level education cooperation. These projects foster professionals for  Global South countries and help them achieve independent, sustainable development.

Sharing China's development and governance experience

Improving the quality and efficiency of foreign assistance involves both tangible inputs, such as materials, projects, techniques and professionals, and the provision of public goods such as development philosophy, governance experience and cooperation models.

China follows the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, never imposes its development model or any political strings on recipient countries, fully respecting their right to choose development paths. Ensuring policy autonomy is key to integrating assistance into local development and avoiding structural dependency.

Notably, the value of international public goods increases via cross-border dissemination and localization. The Belt and Road Initiative, a popular international public good, provides support for concept exchange, experience sharing and capacity building.

China shares its practices in poverty alleviation, industrial upgrading, digital economy, green transformation and rural governance, helping Global South countries enhance policymaking and governance capacity and explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions.