CIDCA spokesperson briefs Chinese and foreign media about just-concluded 3rd High-Level Conference of Forum on Global Action for Shared Development

The third High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing on April 21 and 22.

Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng hosted a group meeting with senior foreign representatives attending the meeting. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Political leaders, such as the president of Mozambique and Timor-Leste's deputy prime minister, as well as heads of international organizations and multilateral financial institutions, made speeches at the meeting. Ghana's president, Pakistan's prime minister and a deputy secretary-general of the United Nations addressed the event via video. Saleumxay Kommasith, a member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Lao deputy prime minister, attended the opening ceremony.

More than 600 representatives from more than 140 countries, international and regional organizations, and specialized institutions attended the meeting on-site or online. For the first time, ministerial-level delegations from developed countries attended the event and made an address.

Participants highly praised the crucial role of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China in guiding global development cooperation and the transformation of the global governance system. They spoke positively of Chinese modernization and the significant role of exchanges and cooperation undertaken under the GDI's framework in   implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and supporting countries' development efforts. Participants also reached consensus on addressing global challenges and promoting global development.

Three themed sub-forums focused on the digital economy, development financing, and climate change and green development. Highlights on the sidelines of the event included interactions between participants with embodied AI technologies; the official launch of the cloud-based public version of the latest-generation MAZU, an integrated multi-hazard early warning system; and stories shared by foreign beneficiaries of development cooperation projects.

The third High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development achieved fruitful outcomes.

The world today faces growing instability and turbulence, marked by frequent geopolitical conflicts, governance deficits and weak growth momentum. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development faces mounting challenges. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism stand in contrast to the expectations of developing countries for development cooperation, justice and fairness.

This year marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period and the fifth anniversary of the GDI, the first of the four China-proposed global initiatives. The underlying conditions and long-term trends sustaining China's long-term economic growth remain unchanged. China is willing to continue to pool more resources into global development cooperation, bridge the gap between Gloabl North and South, and support other developing countries in pursuing their development.

Against this background, the conference further demonstrated China's commitment to global development and its sense of responsibility as a major country. The conference also enhanced China's confidence and resole contribute greater stability and certainty to the world through its governance experience gained from its modernization efforts, while further clarifying China's vision of working with all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

The conference can be described with three words.

The first is continuity. In 2021, China proposed the GDI, calling for development to be placed at the center of the international macro policy agenda. At this conference, participants reviewed how the GDI advanced the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promoted global development. They noted that the initiative has evolved from a proposal put forward by China into a broad international consensus, and from a vision for cooperation into practical actions.

China has consistently emphasized the importance of taking concrete actions rather than engaging in empty talk. The List of Deliverables for a Shared Future Actions Plan released at the conference covers major developing regions including Asia, Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific, as well as the eight key areas of the GDI. The list includes flagship projects, "small yet smart" livelihood projects, exchange mechanisms, cooperation platforms and large-scale events. The implementing partners of the outcomes range from government agencies, international organizations to non-governmental institutions. China will establish a dedicated mechanism to supervise and evaluate the implementation of the outcomes. It is believed that the GDI will usher in another fruitful five years.

The second is alignment. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan speaks of promoting global poverty reduction cooperation, enhancing assistance to other countries, and furthering collaboration in green development, artificial intelligence, digital economy, public health, tourism, agriculture, weather and the application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.

During the conference, participants fully recognized China's crucial role and position in international development cooperation. They expressed their hope to learn about China's development experience and share the opportunities arising from China's 15th Five-Year Plan and better share the benefits of development.

Based on the most urgent needs of developing countries and the most pressing challenges facing the international community, China carefully designed the theme and agenda of the conference, sub-forum topics and list of deliverables. In this way, China aims to better align the 15th Five-Year Plan with the development strategies of other countries and regions, as well as with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so that countries can complement each other's strengths and achieve mutual benefit.. China will further promote domestic and international dual circulation, creating more development opportunities for all countries and pursuing shared development.

The third is solidarity. China believes that true development is development for all and that good development is sustainable. From beauty and hairdressing training programs in Central Asian countries, to a  satellite data receiving station in Namibia, from the Juncao cooperation demonstration center in Fiji, to the national library of El Salvador, and from the Karakoram Highway and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to China-Europe freight train services, China has incorporated the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and harmonious coexistence into practical projects and initiatives benefiting local people.

China has always regarded itself as a member of the Global South and is an enduring good friend and partner of other developing countries. China uphold true multilateralism, value the coordinating role of the UN, encourages broader participation from all sectors, and attaches importance to exchanges and cooperation with developed countries and  traditional donor countries.

Representatives from many developed countries attended previous high-level conferences at China's invitation. More developed countries are engaging with China on international development cooperation, while increasing emerging economies, international organizations and non-governmental institutions have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI and the Network of the Global Development Promotion Center.

China stands ready to work with all parties to strengthen South-North cooperation, explore new South-South cooperation areas, and continue building broader consensus and coordinated actions toward a community with a shared future for humanity.