Photo: VCG

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng shared his advice on the stagnation or even regression faced by the global achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include practicing true multilateralism, promoting complementary advantages, helping solve the most urgent issues in developing countries, and exploring practical cooperation growth points.

Han made remarks during a high-level meeting on Global Development Initiative (GDI) Cooperation Outcomes hosted by China, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday local time. 

He noted that two years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the GDI at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, aiming to consolidate international consensus on promoting development, and cultivate new global development momentum, as well as to promote common progress among countries around the world.

More than 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, and nearly 200 practical cooperation projects have been included in the GDI project library. China has announced the launch of a $10 billion special fund to implement the GDI, Han noted.

However, Han stressed that the global achievement of SDGs were facing severe challenges, with about 90 percent of the goals being off track and nearly one-third of the goals stagnating or even regressing. Meanwhile, the fourth industrial revolution is emerging, and countries are facing a transformative opportunity to move towards higher quality development. 

In this regard, China called on continuation to practice true multilateralism, and promote the return of development issues to the center of the international agenda, as well as to enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance.

Han also suggested actively promoting global, regional, sub-regional, and country-specific development cooperation, so as to achieve complementary advantages.

Additionally, various development resources should be comprehensively mobilized to help solve the most urgent and difficult problems faced by developing countries. Practical cooperation growth points should also be actively found, and countries should jointly explore the path of technology-led, resource-saving, and eco-friendly development.

Han emphasized that on the path toward development, no country should be left behind. This is the vision of GDI and also the striving goal advocated by the United Nations. China looks forward to working hand in hand with all parties to promote the steady and far-reaching implementation of GDI, and to gather strong forces for the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the construction of a global community of development.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry, more than 300 representatives from the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, Group of 77 and international organizations attended the meeting, who look forward to strengthening unity and cooperation with China, so as to implement the GDI, and further promote the achievement of the SDGs.

Global Times