China-UN cooperation drives long-term health system development

As the Global Development Initiative (GDI) reaches its 5th anniversary, its transition from concept to practice is becoming increasingly evident. At the 3rd High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the initiative has expanded from a China-proposed vision into a broad international consensus, with its practical dimensions continuing to deepen, injecting momentum into the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to a UNICEF report titled Study on International Development Cooperation for Children, China's participation in the field of child development carries significant importance. China has consistently placed child development at the center of its social policy, building extensive experience across areas such as child survival, health and nutrition and basic education. Drawing on this foundation, its development approaches, technologies and practical interventions offer adaptable models that can be further tested and localized in other developing countries.

Over the past decade, China's contributions to UN public health projects have focused on financing, experience-sharing and strengthening frontline health systems, with a growing emphasis on embedding capacity within local systems rather than providing short-term aid. 

A representative example is the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) projects implemented in several African countries in partnership with UNICEF. In these initiatives, China typically provides financial support, while UNICEF works with local governments to implement programmes within national health systems. The focus is on strengthening primary healthcare at the community level, particularly in underserved and remote areas. In practice, this involves expanding access to essential maternal and child health services, supporting community health workers in delivering frontline care, and reinforcing preventive measures such as vaccination and nutrition interventions.

Based on the domestic experience in reducing maternal and child mortality, China supports the training of local healthcare workers, the introduction of standardized service protocols, and the sharing of practical approaches to community-based healthcare. Instead of creating parallel systems, these efforts are integrated into existing public health structures, enabling external support to strengthen local service delivery.

China's public health cooperation in developing countries follows a structured model combining multilateral financing, local integration and capacity building. Through partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF, Chinese funding is channeled into programmes that are designed according to international standards and implemented within national health systems. By working within existing primary healthcare systems, these initiatives prioritize workforce training, service standardization and the strengthening of community health networks.

Compared with traditional one-time aid, this model places greater emphasis on long-term system development. By integrating interventions into local institutions and building domestic capacity, it enables external support to be absorbed into routine service delivery, thereby extending its impact beyond the project cycle. The focus shifts from short-term gains to long-term system strengthening, enhancing both impact and sustainability.

At the global level, this model reflects a broader shift in development cooperation toward more sustainable and system-oriented approaches. By aligning with multilateral frameworks and supporting implementation through UN agencies, it reinforces the role of the UN system as a platform for coordinating resources, setting standards and delivering health outcomes in line with global goals, such as SDG 3. At the same time, the integration of South-South cooperation introduces alternative development pathways grounded in shared experiences among developing countries, diversifying sources of expertise and financing while enabling more context-sensitive solutions.

As Wang noted, China is willing to work with all parties to use the GDI as a platform to mobilize broad development resources, strengthen the foundations for development, uphold a path of peaceful development and foster an open environment for growth, with the aim of advancing toward a global community with a shared future. China will take proactive steps, deepen cooperation and continue to serve as a driver and contributor to global development, working with all parties to open up new prospects through practical efforts.