Socialist Global Sustainable Development: Wang Manqian, "The Global Development Initiative injects new impetus into global sustainable development" [王曼倩 全球发展倡议为全球可持续发展注入新动力 ]

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Since 2015's announcement of the UN's 20230 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the issue of the interpretation and fulfillment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals it incorporated has been at the center of the great debates about the nature, character, and fulfillment of development as envisioned in and as this agenda. 

The Agenda remains the world’s roadmap for ending poverty, protecting the planet and tackling inequalities. The 17 SDGs, the cornerstone of the Agenda, offer the most practical and effective pathway to tackle the causes of violent conflict, human rights abuses, climate change and environmental degradation and aim to ensure that no one will be left behind. The SDGs reflect an understanding that sustainable development everywhere must integrate economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection. (here)

While the West and its public-private apparatus have sought to develop a universal narrative about and around the SDG's, the 2030 Agenda, and the imaginaries of development crafted through their language and framework, China has sought to develop and project its own narrative, one developed to align with movement along China's Socialist Path as part of a larger objective of reshaping the entirety of the imaginaries of international legality and policy (here). These have been built around what the Chinese authorities call the "Global Development Initiative" which some in the West have suggested now serves as a chapeau for the earlier initiative like Belt & Road (eg here).  As the Chinese Foreign Ministry explained it in the context of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (September 2024), 

Three years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, calling for building a consensus on pursuing development, promoting shared growth and helping accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The initiative has since been continuously substantialized, its implementation mechanisms increasingly refined, and practical cooperation under its framework has gradually taken shape, thereby offering China's solution to bridging the development gap in Global South countries as well as building a better world together.

China has been marshaling its friends to form a bloc within the UN, the object of which is to promote the GDI, borrowing a similar tactic that has been the specialty of insiders at the UN used to marshal through favored initiatives (for its application in the context of the so-called Treaty on Business and human Rights, see here). Quoting Fu Cong, China's permanent representative at the UN, Chinese reporting noted the way that China

has further expanded "our network of friends".More than 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations, "responded positively to the initiative, and the Group of Friends now comprises more than 80 countries", Fu said. The initiative has so far achieved "fruitful outcomes", thanks to "practical cooperation" and "we have made steady progress in the institutional building", said Fu. "The GDI comes from China, but its opportunities and outcomes belong to the whole world. China will continue to work closely with other group members and further advance the work of our group to lend fresh impetus to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda," he said. (HERE)

It is in furtherance of these initiatives that some Chinese policy essays and scholarship has been developed.  Among them, and of some interest is a recent article by Wang Manqian, "The Global Development Initiative injects new impetus into global sustainable development" [王曼倩 全球发展倡议为全球可持续发展注入新动力 ]published in Red Flag Journal 《红旗文稿》. Wang Manqian is Vice Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The essay appears below in the original Chinese and in a crude English translation.

Wang makes three broad points.  The first is that GDI envisions of national context focused approach to development and an inter-governmental structure for coordinating these distinctive pathways toward development, united broadly by generalized shared goals. "The Global Development Initiative encourages countries to formulate development plans based on their own national conditions, while strengthening international policy communication, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges, so as to build a closer and more pragmatic global development partnership." ["全球发展倡议鼓励各国根据自身国情制定发展计划，同时加强国际间的政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通，从而构建起一个更加紧密、更加务实的全球发展伙伴关系。"].

The second is to align GDI with the emerging structures of socialist modernization as it has been developed within the context of the 3rd Plenum's recent Resolution on Socialist Modernization and New or High Quality Development (3rd Plenum Communique here, discussion here, here, here, and here).  That reinforces the alignment between theoretical development within China (especially with respect to internal development) and the projection of that theoretical development outward in ways that can be generalized for the international community.

The Global Development Initiative is a plan of world significance proposed by China in the context of many challenges and changes in economic globalization. It is mainly based on the "six insistences", namely, insisting on giving priority to development, insisting on putting people at the center, insisting on inclusiveness, insisting on innovation-driven, insisting on harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and insisting on action-oriented. It not only reflects China's profound understanding and active response to global development, but also demonstrates the world value of Chinese-style modernization. 全球发展倡议是中国在经济全球化面临诸多挑战和变革的背景下，提出的具有世界意义的方案，以“六个坚持”为主要内容，即坚持发展优先，坚持以人民为中心，坚持普惠包容，坚持创新驱动，坚持人与自然和谐共生，坚持行动导向，不仅体现了中国对全球发展的深刻理解和积极应对，更展现了中国式现代化的世界价值。

Third, Wang notes the efforts to materialize the vision for a Chinese and Socialist Pathway to development through the further development of networks and inter-linkages at the State level.  To that end he notes what appears to be the critical pathways toward community. These include the further  solidification of the "Friends of GDI" at the UN and likely eventually at other international institutions (the UN Geneva apparatus for example). Another is the parallel development of linked networks through the China International Development Cooperation Agency. The third is through the Belt & Road Initiative networks. The object is to enhance the centrality of China and the Chinese vision for the re-constitution of the forms and trajectories of the global discourse on development and the embedding of the Chinese development imaginary within the structures and operations of the United Nations systems, and beyond. "China adheres to true multilateralism, promotes North-South dialogue, achieves complementary advantages, consolidates the cooperation pattern dominated by North-South cooperation and supplemented by South-South cooperation, and practices the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities" [中国坚持真正的多边主义，促进南北对话，实现优势互补，巩固以南北合作为主导、南南合作为补充的合作格局，践行共同但有区别的责任原则。]. 

全球发展倡议为全球可持续发展注入新动力

来源：《红旗文稿》2024/19 作者：王曼倩 2024-10-14 14:09:33

　　习近平总书记在庆祝中华人民共和国成立75周年招待会上的讲话中强调，要推动落实全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议，积极参与全球治理体系改革和建设，推动构建人类命运共同体。2021年9月21日，习近平总书记在出席第七十六届联合国大会一般性辩论时提出全球发展倡议，呼吁国际社会加快落实联合国2030年可持续发展议程，推动实现更加强劲、绿色、健康的全球发展。2024年中非合作论坛北京峰会发布的《中非关于在全球发展倡议框架内深化合作的联合声明》指出，全球发展倡议同联合国2030年可持续发展议程、非盟《2063年议程》及非洲各国发展战略高度契合，为促进全球共同发展注入强劲动力。全球发展倡议是构建人类命运共同体理念在全球发展领域的重要实践，成为新时代中国向国际社会提供的重要公共产品。

　　一

　　发展承载着人民对美好生活的向往，是发展中国家的第一要务，也是人类社会的永恒主题。习近平总书记强调：“这是一个充满挑战的时代，也是一个充满希望的时代。我们要认清世界发展大势，坚定信心，起而行之，拧成一股绳，铆足一股劲，推动全球发展，共创普惠平衡、协调包容、合作共赢、共同繁荣的发展格局。”全球发展倡议以发展为核心，重点着眼于推动全球共同进步，展现了中国在推动全球共同发展中的积极担当与坚定决心，得到了国际社会的广泛响应和支持。

　　全球发展倡议是破解全球发展难题的引领性理念。当今时代，国际局势错综复杂，各种变数与挑战层出不穷。世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，这不仅考验着人类的智慧与勇气，也让国际社会对团结协作、共同发展的渴望愈发强烈。面对这样的时代背景，如何找到破解发展困境的有效途径，成为人类社会亟待解决的时代性课题。习近平总书记提出全球发展倡议，为各国指明了一条可行的道路，为应对挑战、化解纷争、消除分歧提供了中国方案，彰显了中国对全球治理的深刻洞察和积极贡献。全球发展倡议旨在推动人类社会朝着更为持久和平、全面安全、共同繁荣、广泛包容、清洁美丽的目标迈进。通过这一倡议，各国能够更加紧密地团结在一起，共同应对全球性挑战，推动构建更加和谐稳定的国际秩序。随着全球发展倡议的深入实施，国际社会将有望共同开创一个更加美好的未来。这不仅是对当前全球发展困境的有力回应，更是对人类命运共同体理念的生动诠释。

　　全球发展倡议是中国提出的国际合作新方案。在全球化的今天，各国面临的发展难题层出不穷，从经济增长乏力、贫富差距扩大，到生态环境恶化、公共卫生安全威胁等，都迫切需要全球性的解决方案。全球发展倡议不仅关注各国自身的发展，更强调国家间的协同合作与共同发展，通过倡导创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的新发展理念，为破解全球发展难题提供了全新的视角和路径。在具体实践中，全球发展倡议与构建人类命运共同体理念相互呼应，共同推动着全球治理体系的完善和变革。人类命运共同体理念强调各国人民的共同利益和共同责任，倡导建立更加公正合理的国际秩序。全球发展倡议则在此基础上进一步明确了实现共同发展的具体目标和行动方案。全球发展倡议鼓励各国根据自身国情制定发展计划，同时加强国际间的政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通，从而构建起一个更加紧密、更加务实的全球发展伙伴关系。

　　全球发展倡议的提出，展现了中国作为负责任大国的担当和作为。破解全球发展难题需要集全球之力、汇各方之智。因此，全球发展倡议积极倡导多边主义，支持联合国等国际组织在推动全球发展中的核心作用，同时鼓励各国政府、企业、民间团体等多方参与，形成推动全球发展的强大合力。在实施过程中，注重与各国发展战略的对接与协调，以确保各项举措能够落地生根、开花结果。通过加强南北合作、南南合作以及三方合作等多种形式的国际合作，努力推动全球发展资源的优化配置和高效利用，为实现联合国2030年可持续发展目标贡献中国力量。全球发展倡议作为破解发展难题的中国方案，从中国主张到国际共识、从合作理念到实际行动，已在实际操作中展现出强大生命力和广阔前景。全球发展倡议以其独特的视角和全面的布局，为全球发展注入了新的动力和希望，成为推动构建更加美好世界的重要力量。

　　二

　　习近平总书记强调：“中国式现代化坚持独立自主、自力更生，依靠全体人民的辛勤劳动和创新创造发展壮大自己，通过激发内生动力与和平利用外部资源相结合的方式来实现国家发展，不以任何形式压迫其他民族、掠夺他国资源财富，而是为广大发展中国家提供力所能及的支持和帮助。”坚持和平发展，在坚定维护世界和平与发展中谋求自身发展，又以自身发展更好维护世界和平与发展，推动构建人类命运共同体，是中国式现代化的突出特征。全球发展倡议是中国在经济全球化面临诸多挑战和变革的背景下，提出的具有世界意义的方案，以“六个坚持”为主要内容，即坚持发展优先，坚持以人民为中心，坚持普惠包容，坚持创新驱动，坚持人与自然和谐共生，坚持行动导向，不仅体现了中国对全球发展的深刻理解和积极应对，更展现了中国式现代化的世界价值。

　　坚持发展优先。发展是解决一切问题的总钥匙，是实现人民幸福的关键。在全球化的今天，各国之间的联系日益紧密，一荣俱荣、一损俱损的局面愈发明显。推动各国共同发展，实现真正的可持续发展显得尤为重要。全球发展倡议坚持发展优先，将发展视为解决全球性问题的根本途径，通过加强国际合作，推动各国共同发展，共同应对全球性挑战，实现共同繁荣与进步。

　　坚持以人民为中心。人民是历史的创造者和社会发展的主体，增进人民福祉始终是检验国家政策成效的重要标准。中国共产党一经诞生，就把为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴确立为自己的初心使命。全球发展倡议正是以人民为中心的发展思想在国际层面的延伸和拓展，强调各国在发展过程中应更加关注人民的获得感、幸福感和安全感，确保每一个人都能从发展中受益，切实将全球人民的需求和利益作为出发点，致力于实现普惠式发展，确保发展成果能够更多、更公平地惠及全体人民。

　　坚持普惠包容。今天，各国之间的利益交融和命运与共已成为不争的事实，唯有倡导并建立更加公正合理的国际经济新秩序，才能确保各国在平等互利的基础上实现共同发展。全球发展倡议坚决反对贸易保护主义和单边主义，强调包容性发展，鼓励各国携手应对全球性挑战，共同分享发展机遇和成果。这不仅体现了中国作为负责任大国的担当精神，更彰显了中国式现代化的世界价值。通过坚持普惠包容的原则，中国致力于推动构建开放型世界经济，促进贸易和投资自由化便利化，为各国提供更加广阔的发展空间和机遇。

　　坚持创新驱动。科技创新能够带来生产力的飞跃，推动产业升级和经济转型；而管理创新则能提高效率，优化资源配置，为社会发展注入新的活力。为了实现更高质量、更可持续的全球发展，全球发展倡议鼓励各国在科技创新、管理创新等多个领域开展深度合作。全球发展倡议所倡导的创新驱动，不仅要求各国在技术上取得突破，更需要在发展理念、政策制定和实施等方面进行创新。各国需要摒弃传统的发展观念和路径依赖，顺应新一轮科技革命和产业变革的时代潮流，实现更加包容、可持续的发展。

　　坚持人与自然和谐共生。面对当今世界存在的严峻生态问题，全球发展倡议明确提出绿色发展、低碳发展的方向，旨在推动经济社会发展与生态环境保护实现良性互动和协调并进。人类在发展经济、追求进步的同时，必须尊重自然、顺应自然、保护自然，确保人与自然之间的关系和谐稳定。人与自然和谐共生是中国式现代化的本质要求之一，中国式现代化追求的是全面发展，其中包括生态环境的保护和改善。没有良好的生态环境，就没有真正的现代化。在推动现代化的过程中，我们始终将生态环境保护放在重要位置，推进生态优先、节约集约、绿色低碳发展，加快发展方式绿色转型，以高品质的生态环境支撑高质量发展。这与全球发展倡议坚持人与自然和谐共生的理念紧密相连，坚持可持续发展，为人类和平与发展作出贡献。

　　坚持行动导向。全球性问题层出不穷，从气候变化到经济不平等，从公共卫生危机到粮食安全挑战，这些问题的复杂性和紧迫性都要求全球各国以实实在在的行动来共同应对。全球发展倡议明确指出，只有通过切实有效的行动，我们才能推动全球发展不断取得新的进展。倡议呼吁各国摒弃空谈和拖延，转而采取有力措施，确保各项发展目标得以落地生根。在这一过程中，中国以实际行动展现了自身的责任担当。无论是推动国内减贫事业取得历史性成就，还是在全球范围内积极参与国际合作与援助，中国都在用实际行动践行全球发展倡议。

　　三

　　在经济全球化日益深入的今天，中国式现代化展现出独特的魅力与活力，中国以其庞大的经济体量和市场潜力，推动着全球经济的增长与繁荣,不仅为国家自身发展注入了强劲动力，更为全球发展提供了新的思路与方案。通过中国式现代化的实践，中国向世界展示了一种不同于西方的现代化路径，为其他发展中国家提供了借鉴和参考，推动了全球治理体系的完善与发展。

　　拓展外交朋友圈，健全和完善国际合作机制。“独行快，众行远。”在相互依存的世界中，任何国家都无法孤立地求得发展。自2021年9月全球发展倡议提出以来，得到了100多个国家以及包括联合国在内的20多个国际组织的支持和参与。已有82个国家加入“全球发展倡议之友小组”，70多个国家和国际组织加入全球发展促进中心网络，40余个国家、国际组织及金融机构与中国国家国际发展合作署（以下简称“国合署”）签署了落实该倡议的合作文件。今年，国合署又与联合国工业发展组织共同发表了推动该倡议的联合声明。中国积极拓展外交领域，努力构建广泛而深入的外交朋友圈，与世界各国建立起紧密而友好的外交关系。这种全方位、多层次、立体化的外交布局，不仅为中国的发展创造了有利的外部环境，也为世界各国的交流与合作提供了广阔平台。同时，中国还致力于健全和完善各种国际合作机制，如推动“一带一路”倡议的深入实施，积极参与亚洲基础设施投资银行建设等。通过这些重要的合作平台，中国与世界各国共同筹措资金、分享资源、推进务实合作，实现了互利共赢和共同发展。这些举措不仅彰显了中国的大国担当，也为推动构建人类命运共同体贡献了积极力量。

　　履行发展承诺，推进务实合作。全球发展倡议源自中国，成果和机会属于世界。在发展繁荣的道路上，一个国家都不能少，一个人都不能掉队，这是全球发展倡议的愿景，也是联合国倡导的目标。2023年7月，中国成功举办全球共享发展行动论坛首届高级别会议，成立全球发展项目库、资金库，全球发展倡议更加深入人心。至今，全球发展项目库总数已超千项，已完成和正在实施的项目达500多个。同时，我们成立了全球发展和南南合作基金，已经支持了150多个项目，彰显了对全球发展的坚定承诺。中国将继续坚持发展中国家定位，深化与各国及区域战略对接，促进“全球南方”国家共同繁荣，引领南南合作释放新潜力。充分利用项目库与资金库，创新合作模式，加速资金转化为旗舰项目。聚焦卫生、数字、绿色领域，打造“小而美”品牌，推动新项目精细落地，力求以精准操作展现大作为，为全球发展贡献更多中国智慧和力量。

　　推动全球治理体系完善，助力实现全球可持续发展目标。作为世界上最大的发展中国家，中国在全球发展中的责任重大，始终秉持共商共建共享的全球治理观，积极引领国际发展合作，推动全球治理体系的改革和完善，为构建更加公正合理的国际秩序贡献力量。中国坚持真正的多边主义，促进南北对话，实现优势互补，巩固以南北合作为主导、南南合作为补充的合作格局，践行共同但有区别的责任原则。坚持致力于推动多边发展治理体系改革，拓展全球发展倡议及联合国2030议程下的多方合作，引领“后2030”发展议程规划。同时，中国坚决反对将援外与国际发展合作政治化、工具化、武器化，敦促发达国家履行援助与气候融资承诺，在共识基础上开展平等合作，共同为全球发展贡献力量，确保国际发展合作始终遵循正确方向，助力实现全球可持续发展目标。

　　（作者：北京外国语大学马克思主义学院副院长、教授）

　　责任编辑：薛 莲

 The Global Development Initiative injects new impetus into global sustainable development
Source: "Red Flag Journal" 2024/19 Author: Wang Manqian 2024-10-14 14:09:33

In his speech at the reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to promote the implementation of global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and global civilization initiatives, actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. On September 21, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative when attending the general debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, calling on the international community to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promote stronger, greener and healthier global development. The "China-Africa Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative" issued at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation pointed out that the Global Development Initiative is highly consistent with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union's "2063 Agenda" and the development strategies of African countries, injecting strong impetus into promoting global common development. The Global Development Initiative is an important practice of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of global development, and has become an important public product provided by China to the international community in the new era.

I

Development carries the people's yearning for a better life. It is the first priority of developing countries and the eternal theme of human society. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "This is an era full of challenges and an era full of hope. We must recognize the general trend of world development, strengthen our confidence, take action, work together, and work hard to promote global development and create a development pattern of inclusive balance, coordination and inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and common prosperity." The Global Development Initiative takes development as its core and focuses on promoting global common progress. It demonstrates China's active responsibility and firm determination in promoting global common development and has received widespread response and support from the international community.

The Global Development Initiative is a leading concept for solving global development problems. In today's era, the international situation is complex and various variables and challenges emerge in an endless stream. The world's unprecedented changes in a century are accelerating, which not only tests the wisdom and courage of mankind, but also makes the international community more eager for unity, cooperation and common development. Faced with such an era, how to find an effective way to solve the development dilemma has become an urgent issue for human society. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative, which pointed out a feasible path for all countries, provided a Chinese solution for responding to challenges, resolving disputes and eliminating differences, and demonstrated China's profound insight and positive contribution to global governance. The Global Development Initiative aims to promote human society towards the goal of more lasting peace, comprehensive security, common prosperity, broad inclusiveness, cleanliness and beauty. Through this initiative, countries can unite more closely to jointly respond to global challenges and promote the building of a more harmonious and stable international order. With the in-depth implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the international community will be expected to jointly create a better future. This is not only a powerful response to the current global development dilemma, but also a vivid interpretation of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Global Development Initiative is a new international cooperation plan proposed by China. In today's globalized world, countries are facing endless development problems, from weak economic growth, widening gap between the rich and the poor, to ecological environmental deterioration, public health and safety threats, etc., all of which urgently need global solutions. The Global Development Initiative not only focuses on the development of each country, but also emphasizes the coordinated cooperation and common development among countries. By advocating the new development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, it provides a new perspective and path for solving global development problems. In specific practice, the Global Development Initiative and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind echo each other and jointly promote the improvement and reform of the global governance system. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind emphasizes the common interests and common responsibilities of the people of all countries and advocates the establishment of a more just and reasonable international order. On this basis, the Global Development Initiative further clarifies the specific goals and action plans for achieving common development. The Global Development Initiative encourages countries to formulate development plans based on their own national conditions, while strengthening international policy communication, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges, so as to build a closer and more pragmatic global development partnership.

The proposal of the Global Development Initiative demonstrates China's responsibility and actions as a responsible major country. Solving global development problems requires the global strength and wisdom of all parties. Therefore, the Global Development Initiative actively advocates multilateralism, supports the core role of international organizations such as the United Nations in promoting global development, and encourages the participation of governments, enterprises, non-governmental organizations and other parties to form a strong joint force to promote global development. In the implementation process, attention is paid to the docking and coordination with the development strategies of various countries to ensure that various initiatives can take root and bear fruit. By strengthening various forms of international cooperation such as North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation, efforts are made to promote the optimal allocation and efficient use of global development resources, and contribute China's strength to the realization of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. As a Chinese solution to solve development problems, the Global Development Initiative has demonstrated strong vitality and broad prospects in actual operations, from China's propositions to international consensus, from cooperation concepts to practical actions. With its unique perspective and comprehensive layout, the Global Development Initiative has injected new impetus and hope into global development and has become an important force in promoting the construction of a better world.

II

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Chinese-style modernization adheres to independence and self-reliance, relies on the hard work and innovation of all the people to develop and grow itself, and achieves national development by stimulating endogenous motivation and peacefully using external resources. It does not oppress other nations or plunder other countries' resources and wealth in any form, but provides support and help to the vast number of developing countries to the best of its ability." Adhering to peaceful development, seeking its own development while firmly safeguarding world peace and development, and better safeguarding world peace and development with its own development, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind are the outstanding features of Chinese-style modernization. The Global Development Initiative is a plan of world significance proposed by China in the context of many challenges and changes in economic globalization. It is mainly based on the "six insistences", namely, insisting on giving priority to development, insisting on putting people at the center, insisting on inclusiveness, insisting on innovation-driven, insisting on harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and insisting on action-oriented. It not only reflects China's profound understanding and active response to global development, but also demonstrates the world value of Chinese-style modernization.

Adhere to development priority. Development is the master key to solving all problems and the key to achieving people's happiness. In today's globalized world, the links between countries are becoming increasingly close, and the situation of "prosperity and loss together" is becoming more and more obvious. It is particularly important to promote the common development of all countries and achieve real sustainable development. The Global Development Initiative insists on giving priority to development, regards development as the fundamental way to solve global problems, and promotes the common development of all countries through strengthening international cooperation, jointly responds to global challenges, and achieves common prosperity and progress.

Adhere to the people-centered approach. The people are the creators of history and the main body of social development. Improving people's well-being has always been an important criterion for testing the effectiveness of national policies. As soon as the Communist Party of China was born, it established the pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its original mission. The Global Development Initiative is an extension and expansion of the people-centered development idea at the international level. It emphasizes that countries should pay more attention to the people's sense of gain, happiness and security in the process of development, ensure that everyone can benefit from development, and truly take the needs and interests of the people of the world as the starting point, and strive to achieve inclusive development to ensure that the fruits of development can benefit all people more and more fairly.

Adhere to inclusiveness. Today, the integration of interests and the common destiny of countries have become an indisputable fact. Only by advocating and establishing a more just and reasonable new international economic order can we ensure that all countries achieve common development on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The Global Development Initiative firmly opposes trade protectionism and unilateralism, emphasizes inclusive development, and encourages countries to work together to meet global challenges and share development opportunities and achievements. This not only reflects China's sense of responsibility as a responsible major country, but also highlights the world value of Chinese-style modernization. By adhering to the principle of inclusiveness, China is committed to promoting the construction of an open world economy, promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and providing countries with broader development space and opportunities.

Adhere to innovation-driven development. Technological innovation can bring about a leap in productivity, promote industrial upgrading and economic transformation; while management innovation can improve efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and inject new vitality into social development. In order to achieve higher quality and more sustainable global development, the Global Development Initiative encourages countries to carry out in-depth cooperation in multiple fields such as technological innovation and management innovation. The innovation-driven development advocated by the Global Development Initiative requires not only countries to make breakthroughs in technology, but also innovations in development concepts, policy formulation and implementation. Countries need to abandon traditional development concepts and path dependence, follow the trend of the times of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and achieve more inclusive and sustainable development.

Adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Faced with the severe ecological problems in the world today, the Global Development Initiative clearly puts forward the direction of green development and low-carbon development, aiming to promote the benign interaction and coordinated progress of economic and social development and ecological and environmental protection. While developing the economy and pursuing progress, human beings must respect, adapt to and protect nature to ensure the harmonious and stable relationship between man and nature. The harmonious coexistence of man and nature is one of the essential requirements of Chinese-style modernization. Chinese-style modernization pursues comprehensive development, including the protection and improvement of the ecological environment. Without a good ecological environment, there will be no real modernization. In the process of promoting modernization, we have always placed ecological and environmental protection in an important position, promoted ecological priority, conservation and intensive, green and low-carbon development, accelerated the green transformation of development methods, and supported high-quality development with high-quality ecological environment. This is closely linked to the concept of the Global Development Initiative to adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, adhere to sustainable development, and contribute to human peace and development.

Adhere to action orientation. Global problems emerge in an endless stream, from climate change to economic inequality, from public health crises to food security challenges. The complexity and urgency of these problems require countries around the world to jointly respond with concrete actions. The Global Development Initiative clearly points out that only through practical and effective actions can we promote new progress in global development. The initiative calls on countries to abandon empty talk and procrastination and take effective measures to ensure that various development goals can take root. In this process, China has demonstrated its responsibility with practical actions. Whether it is promoting historic achievements in domestic poverty alleviation or actively participating in international cooperation and assistance on a global scale, China is practicing the Global Development Initiative with practical actions.

III

Today, as economic globalization deepens, Chinese-style modernization shows unique character and vitality. With its huge economic size and market potential, China is driving the growth and prosperity of the global economy, which not only injects strong impetus into the country's own development, but also provides new ideas and solutions for global development. Through the practice of Chinese-style modernization, China has shown the world a modernization path different from the West, provided reference and reference for other developing countries, and promoted the improvement and development of the global governance system.

Expand diplomatic circle of friends, improve and perfect international cooperation mechanisms. "A person who walks alone can go fast, but a group of people can go far." In an interdependent world, no country can seek development in isolation. Since the Global Development Initiative was proposed in September 2021, it has received support and participation from more than 100 countries and more than 20 international organizations, including the United Nations. 82 countries have joined the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative", more than 70 countries and international organizations have joined the Global Development Promotion Center Network, and more than 40 countries, international organizations and financial institutions have signed cooperation documents with the China International Development Cooperation Agency (hereinafter referred to as the "CIDA") to implement the initiative. This year, the CIDA and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization jointly issued a joint statement to promote the initiative. China actively expands the diplomatic field, strives to build a broad and in-depth diplomatic circle of friends, and establishes close and friendly diplomatic relations with countries around the world. This all-round, multi-level and three-dimensional diplomatic layout has not only created a favorable external environment for China's development, but also provided a broad platform for exchanges and cooperation among countries around the world. At the same time, China is also committed to improving and perfecting various international cooperation mechanisms, such as promoting the in-depth implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative and actively participating in the construction of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Through these important cooperation platforms, China and other countries in the world have jointly raised funds, shared resources, and promoted practical cooperation, achieving mutual benefit, win-win results and common development. These measures not only demonstrate China's responsibility as a major country, but also contribute positively to the promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Fulfill development commitments and promote practical cooperation. The Global Development Initiative originated from China, and the results and opportunities belong to the world. On the road to development and prosperity, no country can be left behind, and no one can be left behind. This is the vision of the Global Development Initiative and the goal advocated by the United Nations. In July 2023, China successfully held the first high-level meeting of the Global Shared Development Action Forum, established the Global Development Project Library and the Fund Library, and the Global Development Initiative has become more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. To date, the total number of the Global Development Project Library has exceeded 1,000, and more than 500 projects have been completed and are being implemented. At the same time, we have established the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, which has supported more than 150 projects, demonstrating our firm commitment to global development. China will continue to adhere to its position as a developing country, deepen strategic docking with various countries and regions, promote common prosperity of the "Global South" countries, and lead South-South cooperation to release new potential. Make full use of the project library and the fund library, innovate cooperation models, and accelerate the transformation of funds into flagship projects. Focus on the fields of health, digital, and green, create a "small but beautiful" brand, promote the fine implementation of new projects, strive to show great achievements with precise operations, and contribute more Chinese wisdom and strength to global development.

Promote the improvement of the global governance system and help achieve global sustainable development goals. As the world's largest developing country, China has a great responsibility in global development. It has always adhered to the global governance concept of consultation, joint construction and sharing, actively led international development cooperation, promoted the reform and improvement of the global governance system, and contributed to building a more just and reasonable international order. China adheres to true multilateralism, promotes North-South dialogue, achieves complementary advantages, consolidates the cooperation pattern dominated by North-South cooperation and supplemented by South-South cooperation, and practices the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We will continue to promote the reform of the multilateral development governance system, expand global development initiatives and multilateral cooperation under the UN 2030 Agenda, and lead the planning of the "post-2030" development agenda. At the same time, China firmly opposes the politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of foreign aid and international development cooperation, and urges developed countries to fulfill their aid and climate financing commitments, carry out equal cooperation on the basis of consensus, and jointly contribute to global development, ensuring that international development cooperation always follows the right direction and helps achieve global sustainable development goals.

(Author: Vice Dean and Professor of the School of Marxism at Beijing Foreign Studies University)

Editor: Xue Lian