In a moving call for unity, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the government of the Chinese mainland on Tuesday for hosting a high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly general debate.
Speaking under the theme “Recommit to our original aspirations, unite to build a brighter future of global development,” Guterres highlighted that economic uncertainty is deepening a fragile global outlook, driven by:
- Fiscal constraints
- Geopolitical tensions
- Unilateral trade measures
- Growing fragmentation
- Escalating climate risk
He stressed that the GDI’s collaborative framework can serve as a vital mechanism to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Guterres also welcomed insights from the Chinese premier Li Qiang, who outlined fresh objectives and mechanisms to boost the initiative’s global impact.
Looking ahead, the Chinese mainland pledged to roll out another 2,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects across developing countries over the next five years. As Li Qiang noted, the Chinese mainland will also refrain from seeking any new special and differential treatment in current and future World Trade Organization negotiations, underscoring its commitment as a responsible major developing member.
With the SDGs halfway to their 2030 deadline, Guterres’ message is clear: reinvigorated multilateral cooperation is more crucial than ever to build resilient communities and forge a brighter future for global development.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
