Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of placing development at the center of the international agenda when some countries have politicized and marginalized the development issue, built “a small yard with high fences,” imposed maximum sanctions and stoked divisions and confrontation. He made the remarks at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, stressing China will take pragmatic steps to continue supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including adding USD1 billion to a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. It is important that we put development front and center on the international agenda, deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build political consensus to ensure everyone values development and all countries pursue cooperation together, Xi said while chairing the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in Beijing via video link. He called on countries to build an open world economy and shape a global governance system and institutional environment that is more just and equitable.
President Xi said protectionist moves will boomerang; anyone attempting to form exclusive blocs will end up isolating himself; maximum sanctions serve nobody's interest, and practices of decoupling and supply disruptions are neither feasible nor sustainable. The dialogue took place after the BRICS Summit. Leaders from 18 countries attended the dialogue. In addition to BRICS members, leaders from nations including Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Senegal and Uzbekistan also attended the event.
China will upgrade the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund to a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and add USD1 billion to the fund on top of the USD3 billion already committed, the Chinese President said. Xi said China will advance cooperation with all sides on poverty reduction, build capacity for food production and supply, and promote clean energy partnerships.
The Dialogue issued a Chair's Statement saying leaders reached extensive consensus including commitment to multilateralism, development and a people-centered approach. The Deliverables of the dialogue said China will take measures, such as providing 100,000 training opportunities for other developing countries to facilitate post-Covid economic recovery and social development, establishing an International Vaccines Research, Development and Innovation Alliance and officially launching the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund Phase III of USD50 million to support global development. BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – represent 40% of the world population, account for 25% of the global economy and 18% of world trade, and contribute 50% to the world's economic growth.
As the BRICS chair country, China actively supports the BRICS in starting the membership expansion process and expanding the “BRICS Plus” cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
Chinese analysts said the BRICS mechanism represents the future development direction of the world and a fast-emerging force that makes the world more equitable and inclusive. Cooperation between BRICS nations and developing countries is promoting a multipolar world, which is the future direction of the world order featuring balance, efficiency, equality and justice, when the U.S.-led West tried to throw the world out of order with hegemony, unilateral sanctions and confrontation, Chinese analysts said, as reported by the Global Times.
