Global Development Initiative at 5: From vision to global action

Editor's note: Yuan Sha, a special commentator for CGTN, is the deputy director of the Department for Global Governance and International Organization Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Five years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, calling for development to remain a central priority on the international agenda.

As it marks its fifth anniversary, the GDI has gained worldwide support. The priority now is to mobilize wider participation, strengthen coordination among development partners and translate shared commitments into collective action that accelerates the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and advances a more inclusive, balanced and equitable model of global development.

Five years of progress

During the past five years, the GDI has built an extensive network of partnerships, projects and capacity-building programs, translating a vision into international action. More than 130 countries and international organizations support the initiative and nearly 100 countries and international and regional organizations have signed cooperation documents with China.

The Group of Friends of the GDI, established at the United Nations in 2022 with 68 founding members, has expanded to 88 countries. A GDI promotion working group has been established within the UN system to coordinate cooperation and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with over 20 development agencies participating.

However, the significance of the GDI lies not in the number of participating countries but in the resources, projects and benefits it has delivered. More than $23 billion in development resources have been mobilized through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and other funding initiatives. More than 1,800 "small and beautiful" projects have been implemented in over 120 countries, targeting poverty reduction and improvements in people's livelihoods.

Another notable feature is the greater emphasis on capacity building for Global South countries. China and its partners have implemented more than 2,000 projects and provided training for more than 200,000 professionals since the GDI was launched, generating tangible benefits across more than 120 countries. This reflects a broader shift from providing material aid toward strengthening human capital, technical expertise and institutional capacity.

A growing need for cooperation amid mounting challenges

The current international environment holds great potential for the GDI, but also poses grave challenges. With 2030 only four years away, progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains far behind schedule. According to the UN's most recent progress report, of the 139 targets with available trend data, only 36% are on track or making moderate progress.

Financing conditions are also becoming more difficult. The world faces a $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap, worsened by a record 23% drop in official development assistance in 2025. These pressures create a clear demand for additional development finance and stronger cooperation partnerships.

The political and economic environment for development cooperation has become less favorable. Intensifying geopolitical rivalry is driving tariff wars, technological export controls and over-securitization of trade and investment, fragmenting markets, disrupting supply chains and constraining cross-border flows of capital, technology and people. This growing uncertainty has raised costs and weakened incentives for long-term development cooperation.

Carrying the GDI forward

Against this background, the next phase of the GDI should focus on improving coordination, sustainability and its broader development impact. Greater coordination with the UN, multilateral development banks and regional organizations, as well as closer alignment with national development strategies, would mobilize additional resources, improve policy coherence and create greater synergy.

The GDI's eight priority areas, including poverty reduction, food security, public health, development financing, green development and the digital economy, already align with the SDGs. With the UN expected to begin preparations for the post-2030 development agenda in 2027, closer coordination could give the GDI a bigger role in the international development agenda.

Green and digital transitions should be given greater emphasis to advance climate justice and close the digital divide. China has made green development a priority under the GDI. Its "Juncao programs," for example, use multipurpose grass to grow mushrooms and feed livestock without cutting down trees and stop soil erosion.

China also provides digital public goods. For example, the Sustainable Development Science Satellite 1 provides Earth observation data for environmental and development applications, while the MAZU meteorological platform has improved forecasting, early warning and disaster-risk reduction. China's artificial intelligence (AI) capacity-building initiatives and training programs can help other developing countries strengthen their digital capabilities and participate in the next wave of technological transformation.

Last but not least, stronger South-South cooperation should be complemented by broader North-South cooperation. No single initiative can meet the enormous financing needs of developing countries. China's zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations provides an example of unleashing the potential of market access alongside intergovernmental cooperation. Cooperation with interested developed economies would further expand financing capabilities, technological expertise and market reach.

As the GDI grows in relevance, its central task is to preserve development as an area of practical international cooperation, ensure sustainable improvements in people's livelihoods, and inject hope and stability into an increasingly uncertain and divided world.

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