December 10th (AMSP/CGTN) – – A workshop on new industrialization and new quality productive forces is underway in Beijing. It aims to help diplomats at the UN understand China’s Global Development Initiative.
A total of 29 high-level diplomats from the United Nations have gathered in Beijing for a workshop focusing on China’s Global Development Initiative.
At the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, Zhao Fengtao, said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Global Development Initiative injects Chinese strength into improving global governance. He said it ignites new efforts into global development and empowers modernization with new quality productive forces — China’s strategy of driving economic growth through innovation in frontier technologies. Zhao also highlighted the role of the Global South in global development.
“Countries in the Global South should advocate for and uphold economic globalization, and actively seek development and cooperation. On the multilateral stage, the Global South should strengthen coordination and cooperation, demonstrate unity and self-reliance with a strong voice, and promote a more balanced distribution of international power. The Global South should work together to place development at the center of the United Nations’ work,” said Zhao Fengtao.
Over the past three years, China has taken concrete actions to implement the Global Development Initiative, providing development assistance to over 160 countries. Diplomats are attending the workshop in Beijing to discuss the role of the Initiative on the international stage.
“The reason we’re here is about the global development initiative that was launched about three years ago by President Xi Jinping. It is a very useful strategy. It is a something that serves the purpose of achieving development worldwide. And it comes from this vision of having a global community with shared destiny. China has a great experience in this regard in overcoming difficulties in bringing people out of poverty and ensuring prosperity for everyone. So we’re learning from china. All the global south see China as a good example, how to follow and how to promote cooperation in the innovation field, in the technology field, the industrialization field, in order to achieve sustainable development,”said Joaquin Alberto Perez Ayestaran, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN.
“This initiative is very, very important for Bolivia, for developing countries. We have many natural resources, but we don’t have a technology. I think in this situation China could help us for our development and for building a better situation for our population,” Diego Pary Rodriguez, Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the UN, expressed his hope.
The Global Development Initiative also echoes the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aims to support the timely achievement of all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals by revitalizing global development partnership and promoting stronger, greener, and healthier global development.
“I think it’s very important that the initiative like this has became the reality, because as everybody knows, we have not got all the goals of the SDG process. I think they need initiative.The Chinese initiative could be a compliment to those in order to achieve those goals,” said Ernesto Soberon Guzman, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the UN.
Besides poverty alleviation and financing for development, the Global Development Initiative also promotes international cooperation in digital economy and connectivity in the digital era, especially for low-income countries.
“ITU focuses on fostering a digital… and affordable connectivity and also digital inclusion. So this includes expanding affordable access and supporting capacity building initiatives and also promote the digital skills especially for those under-served communities. So ITU also works on global standards to ensure interoperability and affordability of digital technologies. Collaboration and multilateral actions remain key in achieving a sustainable digital and future in the connected future for all,” said Wan Rui, Official at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The week-long seminar is for foreign permanent missions to the United Nations. More events will be held over the week on innovation in the food industry, intelligent production, and using data assets to promote industrial upgrading.
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