Eighteen countries on Friday vowed to strengthen international development cooperation and accelerate the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as they met for the High-level Dialogue on Global Development.

Under the theme of "Foster a Global Development Partnership for the New Era to Jointly Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," the dialogue was held in virtual format.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the dialogue via video link in Beijing, and delivered a speech titled "Forging High-quality Partnership for a New Era of Global Development.”

Xi called for joint efforts to promote global development and foster a development paradigm featuring benefits for all, balance, coordination, inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and common prosperity.

Read more: 

Why China's development philosophy can help promote global prosperity

Xi Jinping's key quotes at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development

The presidents of Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Senegal, South Africa and Uzbekistan attended the Dialogue. The vice president of Brazil and the prime ministers of Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Malaysia and Thailand were also among the attendees.

Focusing on the theme of the dialogue, the leaders of all countries had an in-depth exchange of views on such major issues as strengthening international development cooperation and accelerating the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and brainstormed ways to promote development cooperation and reached wide, important common understandings.

Leaders attending the dialogue delivered remarks separately. They said the emerging markets and developing countries are a crucial force in building a more equitable and balanced international order and promoting peace, security, equality and development.

The countries need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and work with the international community to put the issue of development front and center and build a better world that meets the needs and expectations of most developing countries, said the leaders. 

They said the holding of the dialogue was most opportune and relevant since it helps parties reach new understandings on international development cooperation, safeguard common interests of developing countries, and injects new impetus into maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

The leaders applauded and supported the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by China. They all agreed that development is the foundation of security and security is the prerequisite for development.

They believed that China's initiatives address the concerns and meet the needs of developing countries, and are conducive to forging international consensus, mobilizing development resources and expediting the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

They expressed hope to step up cooperation in poverty alleviation, epidemic prevention and control, food and energy security and other areas.

The leaders also hoped to create more synergy between the GDI and regional development plans to jointly tackle poverty, inequality and development challenges.

The countries raised serious concerns over the negative spillover of unilateral sanctions and the heavy toll they have taken on vulnerable developing countries. They stressed the need to practice true multilateralism, defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold fairness and justice, and advance reforms of the global governance system.

The leaders said, emerging markets and developing countries need to better coordinate and cooperate, strive for greater representation and voice in international affairs, ensure the sound and steady operation of the international economic and financial system, work for the steady recovery and sustainable development of the world economy, and together forge a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership.

The Chair's Statement was issued after the dialogue. It fully outlined the participants' political consensus on global development and proposes measures for practical cooperation in priority areas under the GDI.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the High-level Dialogue on Global Development via video link in Beijing, China, June 24, 2022. /Xinhua)