The Global Development Initiative (GDI), officially the Global Development Initiative — Building on 2030 SDGs for Stronger, Greener and Healthier Global Development, is a multilateral development initiative proposed by Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping in 2021.
History
The GDI was announced on 21 September 2021 by Xi Jinping during a video address to the general debate of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly.[1]
In January 2022, China launched a group at the United Nations named "Friends of the Global Development Initiative". As of November 2023[update], the Xinhua News Agency reported GDI had around 100 members, while the UN group had around 70.[2]
Concept
During the launching speech of the GDI, Xi outlined six core principles for the GDI:[3]
- Staying committed to development as a priority
- Staying committed to a people-centered approach
- Staying committed to benefits for all, to leave no country and no person behind
- Staying committed to innovation-driven development
- Staying committed to harmony between human and nature
- Staying committed to results-oriented actions
Xi identified GDI as a way to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.[3] The GDI covers areas, including ending poverty and hunger, ensuring everyone has access to affordable clean energy, reducing inequality and cutting pollution.[1] It has also been named as a "twin engine" together with the Belt and Road Initiative.[4]
References