Back in September 2015, world leaders came together and unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the UN Summit on Sustainable Development. This historic agreement set forth an exceptionally ambitious and transformative vision through the sustainable development goals and targets.

Fast forward eight years, they find themselves at the midway point toward achieving the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as reported by
China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

Despite some positive advancements, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda faces unprecedented challenges. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, stating that only 12 per cent of the SDG targets are on track, 50 per cent show weak and insufficient progress, and more than 30 per cent of the SDGs have stalled or regressed.

This is undoubtedly a critical juncture that calls for increased action to rescue the SDGs and get them back on track. In response, China, as both the largest developing country and a responsible major nation, has taken the lead and presented a solution.

In September 2021, President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Development Initiative, aimed at mobilising international commitment to development, reinvigorating global efforts to achieve the SDGs, and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The initiative also strives for a stronger, greener, and healthier global development.

The core foundation and primary objective of the Global Development Initiative are rooted in the 2030 Agenda. It addresses the most pressing needs of global development and identifies eight key areas for cooperation: poverty reduction, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity in the digital era. These areas encompass all 17 SDGs without altering or repackaging them.

The Global Development Initiative serves as a catalyst for the 2030 Agenda’s implementation and the attainment of sustainable development in economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Unsurprisingly, the initiative has received a warm response from the international community since its unveiling nearly two years ago. Over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed support for the Global Development Initiative, and approximately 70 countries, primarily developing ones, have joined the UN-based Group of Friends of the GDI.

Secretary-General Guterres has praised the GDI as “a valuable contribution to addressing common challenges and expediting the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future.”

In a bid to make more resources available for global development cooperation, China established the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund with a total investment of $4 billion. Additionally, China has committed to increasing contributions to the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund. With these funds’ support, UN development agencies have initiated several practical projects that have benefited over 60 developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.

China has also launched Phase III of the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with a total sum of $50 million, offering fresh resources for international collaboration in poverty reduction and food security.

The clock is ticking for the SDGs, and the focus must return to development. China’s major proposal for global development, especially in the second half of the 2030 Agenda, is the Global Development Initiative. The GDI invites international partners to join hands in promoting sustainable development. With numerous projects already in progress and the collective efforts of global partners sharing the same objective, it will make substantial contributions to expediting the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for the betterment of people, the planet, and prosperity.

Photo:
IStock