The African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa recently hosted a pivotal dialogue on China's proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI), marking a significant step in Africa-China relations.
AU Commissioner for Education, Science, and Innovation, Mohammed Belhocine, emphasized the long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership between Africa and China. He highlighted that Africa-China cooperation exemplifies successful South-South collaboration, aligning seamlessly with Africa's Agenda 2063 development blueprint and promising substantial benefits for future generations.
Zhao Fengtao, Deputy Head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, underscored the GDI's role as a catalyst for the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He noted that the initiative's eight key cooperation areas are fully aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, attracting support from over 100 countries and more than 20 international organizations, thereby fostering consensus on global development cooperation.
Since its proposal in 2021, the GDI has facilitated fruitful China-Africa collaborations across various sectors. Zhao highlighted the launch of nearly 200 "small and beautiful" livelihood-improving projects in Africa, the inclusion of more than 30 African countries in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Development Promotion Center, and the signing of bilateral documents by 14 African countries to implement the initiative.
Hu Changchun, head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union, stated that the recent Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has injected new momentum into deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa for the upcoming three years.
The event saw the participation of around 200 representatives from key organizations, including the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Development Program, and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, underscoring the global support for the GDI.
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Global Development Initiative dialogue held at AU headquarters
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