Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

2022< /span>On 8month 23, hosted by China International Development Cooperation Agency China's - South Asia Development Cooperation Dialogue Conference was successfully held online and offline. The theme of this dialogue is “strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and seek common regional development”. Deng Boqing, deputy director of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, delivered a keynote speech.

Deng Boqing said that in 2021September, President Xi Jinping proposed a global development initiative at the United Nations General Assembly to promote the development of cracking Difficulties, Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to realize the contribution of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda as scheduled. In June this year, President Xi proposed specific measures to implement the initiative at the Global Development High-Level Dialogue. As the competent department of China's foreign aid, the China International Development Cooperation Agency actively participates in the implementation of global development initiatives and supports the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with practical actions. China has integrated and upgraded the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund to “Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund”, and increased capital on the basis of 3 billion US$< span>1 billion US dollars to increase investment in global development. At the same time, China will provide 100 places for research and seminars. We are about to set up a global development promotion center, take the lead in establishing a project library, and hold a global shared development action forum.

Deng said that China and South Asian countries are connected by mountains and rivers and have a long history of friendly relations. When South Asian countries faced natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as severe challenges such as the financial crisis and the new crown epidemic, China provided sincere support to South Asian countries. Actively carry out anti-epidemic cooperation, jointly build a health community, continue to promote people's livelihood assistance, and enhance the people's sense of gain. A large number of people's livelihood projects are advancing in an orderly manner, focusing on improving infrastructure, laying a solid foundation for social development, and focusing on human resource development and cooperation. “teaching a man to fish” cultivates talents.

Deng emphasized that the current century-old changes and the century-old epidemic are intertwined and turbulent, and the recovery of the world economy is facing severe challenges. The North-South divide continues to widen. Countries in South Asia have a long way to go to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. China is willing to join hands with South Asian countries to promote the implementation of global development initiatives in South Asia. The Chinese side put forward three ideas: First, to further deepen the alignment of strategies, effectively promote the alignment of global development initiatives with the development strategies of various countries, and achieve more early harvests. We are willing to discuss and sign memorandums of understanding on development cooperation with other countries, and formulate three to five-year development cooperation plans. The second is to strengthen practical cooperation, create more brand projects in the fields of poverty reduction, anti-epidemic, food security, people's livelihood, climate change and green development, interconnection and digital economy, and continue to improve people's well-being. The third is to jointly build high-quality partnerships, and is willing to carry out tripartite cooperation in South Asian countries with willing countries and international organizations such as the United Arab Emirates.

Participants at the meeting centered on "Hand in hand for common development" and "Deepen cooperation, Mutual benefit and win-win ” and other topics to conduct candid and pragmatic exchanges, thank the Chinese government for its sincere support and assistance for South Asian countries’ economic and social development, improvement of people’s livelihood, and epidemic prevention and control, and speak positively of China’s hosting of this meeting important meaning. Through the exchange platform of this meeting, all parties are more aware of the crises and challenges facing South Asia, and are willing to further strengthen policy communication, actively participate in global development initiatives, promote regional development cooperation, and promote the United Nations 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Representatives of development and cooperation authorities of Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Export-Import Bank of China and Yunnan He and the person in charge of the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office, experts from relevant think tanks and research institutions, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong, Ambassador to the UAE Zhang Yiming and representatives from relevant embassies in South Asia attended the meeting.