Author: Wang Zhanzhan
"What is the Global Development Initiative? How to promote its high-quality implementation?
Total words4990About13minutes
On September 21, 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (Global Development Initiative) during the general debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly. Since then, China proposed the "Conceptual Instrument of the Global Development Initiative" and issued a "Chairman's Statement" and a list of 32 results of the Global Development Initiative at the Global Development High-Level Dialogue on June 24, 2022. This article will focus on: How was the "Global Development Initiative" proposed? What is the Global Development Initiative? How to promote the high-quality implementation of the "Global Development Initiative"?
How was the initiative proposed?
According to public information, the important time points proposed by the Global Development Initiative are as follows:
What is the Global Development Initiative?
Think “global”
A global initiative proposed by China.The "Global Development Initiative" was formally proposed by China at the United Nations General Assembly and reiterated by China at many multilateral and regional high-level mechanisms, dialogue platforms and conferences such as the United Nations, the Group of 20, the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China’s position advocates the active participation of multiple parties and proposes China’s follow-up implementation measures.
Demonstrate unique global orientation and strategic perspective.The eight priority areas under the "Global Development Initiative" are based on the "severe challenges facing the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"global context. When elaborating on the background and connotation of the initiative and defining the concepts of each priority area, the initiativeTo a large extent, it draws on the existing discourse, institutional platforms and practical experience of global multilateral and bilateral systems., and on this basis, Chinese ideas and Chinese plans were put forward. Some analysts pointed out that China hopes that the initiative will become a platform for providing "important public goods and cooperation" in priority areas of global existing development cooperation.
Demonstrate openness and inclusiveness.The Global Development Initiative is neither limited to South-South or North-South cooperation, nor does it target specific regions or countries. China has initiated the establishment of the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative", which has been joined by nearly 60 countries, and agreed to establish a "working group composed of heads of United Nations agencies and well-known experts" proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General. At the high-level special meeting on "Common Action Now: Coordinating Responses to the Global Food Crisis" held by the United Nations in July, China's representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun attended the meeting and elaborated on the members of the group on food security issues in the name of the "Group of Friends" common ground.
Promote China’s initiative to enter existing multilateral mechanisms.These institutional measures themselves, to a certain extentIt draws on the existing UN negotiation and consultation platform and is based on the "grouping" approach under existing multilateral and regional mechanisms. It also reflects China's efforts to promote its initiatives to enter existing multilateral agendas such as the United Nations.. Indeed, how the initiative provides a “common platform” for solving global development challenges is in line with the existing cooperation mechanisms.Comparative AdvantageWhere and how is it reflected?Interact and build synergy, all deserve continued attention.
Focus on "development"
The Global Development Initiative focuses on solving global development issues to help advance the global development agenda.According to the Initiative’s Concept Instrument,Topic design and developmentAs "a prerequisite for safeguarding peace and protecting human rights," development cooperation is the top priority. Initiative toSouth-South cooperation as the main focus, which is also directly determined by China’s strategic positioning of its country’s development level. initiativeTarget AudienceIt’s also very Southern. The "Chairman's Statement" mentioned "developing countries" a total of 29 times, and "developing countries" also clearly appeared in 13 outcomes of the initiative. Although the "action-oriented" cooperation principle of the initiative also mentions North-South cooperation, compared with its overall development vision, practices and initiative results, South-South cooperation is still the unquestionable primary means.
The list of development cooperation achievements is both diverse and inclusive.The list of 32 results proposed in the "Chairman's Statement" covers at least seven major categories of result forms: First, the establishment of various thematicalliance(such as the "International NGO Poverty Alleviation Cooperation Network", "Blue Partnership", "International Vaccine Innovation and R&D Cooperation Alliance"); The second is to propose relevantFunding arrangement(such as the "Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund", "China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund", "China-UN Food and Agriculture Organization South-South Cooperation Trust Fund"); The third is to propose specificSouth-South Cooperation Activities Initiative(such as "Bright Action" and "Special Action to Promote Grain Production"); the fourth is to promoteKnowledge sharing(For example, establishing a “Global Development Knowledge Network” and publishing the “Global Development Report”); fifth isSkill building(Such as 100,000 training and seminar places for developing countries and agricultural training cooperation for Pacific island countries); Sixth, launchingglobal conference(such as the "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Conference" and "World Youth Development Forum"); Seventh isother(such as the establishment of the "Global Development Promotion Center").
It reflects China’s transformation in development cooperation.“Global Development Initiative” reflects China’s development cooperationStrategic transformation at the conceptual level from "foreign aid" to "international development cooperation", also reflectsFrom traditional "hard aid" to "soft aid", from mainly bilateral aid to enhancing multilateral aid and multilateral cooperation, tactical transformation at the practical level. It is foreseeable that inChina’s decision-making and execution systemInternally, the implementation of the initiative will mainly involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Agency for International Development and Cooperation, etc.Development Cooperation (Foreign Aid) Competent Department, also involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Rural Revitalization Bureau, etc.Business departments in charge of specific areas.
Focus on key issues of global development cooperation.It advocates eight priority areas and 32 results, such as promoting global poverty reduction, strengthening food security and food self-sufficiency, working on vaccine innovation, development financing and climate change cooperation and other development issues. They are all areas of cooperation among mainstream multilateral regional mechanisms around the world in recent years. The top priority, and relatively mature cooperation mechanisms, discourse systems, financing mechanisms and flagship projects have been formed in various fields. Compared with these existing issues and mechanisms, how do global development initiativesnewWhere and where the differences lie, we still need to continue to wait and see.
Put forward an "initiative"
The Global Development Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative are related but have different focuses.The "Global Development Initiative Concept Document" clearly mentions that it can "form the maximum development synergy" for the "Belt and Road" initiative, and that the eight priority areas of the "Global Development Initiative" "promote connectivity" are in line with the "Belt and Road" initiative. The main idea is also highly relevant. Nonetheless, the Global Development Initiative focuses on development cooperation, multilateral and bilateral cooperation, and South-South cooperation, while the Belt and Road Initiative focuses on economic cooperation and bilateral cooperation. The two initiatives have different focus areas, practices, and audiences, and there is no substitution or replacement relationship.
China has proposed a number of global initiatives this year that deserve continued attention.In April this year, President Xi Jinping proposed when attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference"Global Security Initiative". In July this year, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed when attending the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting"International Food Security Cooperation Initiative". The two new initiatives focus on global peace and security and global food security respectively. As the two initiatives are still in the initial stages of conceptualization, how they will synergize with global development initiatives and play a role in their respective fields deserves continued attention.
How to promote the high-quality implementation of the "Global Development Initiative"?
Since the “Global Development Initiative” was proposed in September 2021,China has completed the initial stage of establishing ideas, concepts, frameworks and mechanisms. The next step will be to start a new stage of concept promotion and concept implementation.. How should all parties promote the high-quality implementation of the initiative, especially effectively accelerate the global development cooperation agenda and create a public opinion environment in which the initiative is universally recognized by all parties? The author believes that the following points should be paid attention to:
The first is to respect and implement the “demand-oriented” rather than “supply-oriented” nature of the initiative.No matter which country proposes or leads the initiative, it must follow the periodicity and timeliness of the initiative itself. The implementation process of the initiative should focus on whether it is efficient, whether it meets the local development needs of partner countries and partners, and the extent to which its development results solve development problems for partner countries and partners. Mechanisms such as the “Group of Friends” and working groups composed of heads of China and United Nations agencies and well-known experts can be actively used to strengthen the design of relevant policies, norms and procedures for the initiative, and fully respect and reflect the development aspirations and priorities of developing countries. , and ensure the autonomy and initiative of partners.
The second is to deeply learn from and absorb relevant indicator systems under the existing global development agenda.It is advocated that a standardized, systematic and maneuverable Chinese and foreign joint assessment and supervision system should be established. As mentioned above, the initiative hopes to "greatly accelerate the sustainable development agenda." Therefore, the evaluation and monitoring of the initiative's related results can consider appropriately absorbing the existing indicator system and framework of the SDGs, and innovating a technical system that combines Chinese and Western methods with strong practicality. And ensure the openness and transparency of data and information. At the same time, actively incorporating neutral SDGs technical systems will also create a good international public opinion environment for promoting the results of the initiative, especially in terms of gaining recognition from partners and acceptance from other relevant parties.
The third is to attach importance to foreign participation and external recognition, and actively shape a common discourse acceptable to both China and foreign countries. China should obtain and consolidate in-depth support from the United Nations system and multilateral and regional organizations under the initiative, including the support of the United Nations itself and its affiliated organizations such as its multiple programmes, funds and specialized agencies. So far, those participating in the initiativeSpecific international organizations and specific countriesIt's not clear yet. In other words, the criteria for defining whether to participate in the initiative are whether an international organization or country has participated in a "Group of Friends" meeting, whether it is directly involved in a specific initiative outcome, whether it accepts funding from a fund in the initiative outcome, or whether it has signed a document similar to the "Belt and Road Initiative" "One Road" initiative signed a memorandum of understanding and other official documents to express support, it is worth waiting and watching. Improving the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of the initiative will also help to gain recognition from both China and foreign countries.
The fourth is to improve China’s coordination mechanism, management and supervision mechanism.Based on the fine tradition of China’s inter-ministerial coordination mechanism for foreign aid, a dedicated joint inter-ministerial coordination, decision-making and supervision mechanism should be established and improved. On the one hand, the eight areas covered by the initiative and their specific results should be closely coordinated by the business departments and development cooperation departments in their respective fields to give full play to their respective advantages, streamline responsibilities and roles, and form cross-department synergies that also reflect the results of the initiative. complementarity and synergy between them. As an important outcome of the initiative, the Global Development Promotion Center will be established at the China International Development Cooperation Agency to "promote the implementation of global development initiatives and provide action platforms and resource support." Specifically, it includes "focusing on key cooperation areas of the initiative, establishing and promoting implementation A project library for all parties to participate; innovate and optimize cooperation methods, mobilize and absorb development resources from all parties; hold an annual global shared development action forum to establish development cooperation partnerships; provide intellectual support for government decision-making, etc." What is the institutional positioning and specific responsibilities of the center in China's inter-ministerial coordination, and whether China will rely on the establishment of the center to form an institutional internal and external coordination mechanism, are worthy of study and attention. At the same time, in response to green and low-carbon transformation, development financing and other development issues that are generally valued by the international community and that China has focused on in recent years,China should introduce more targeted and instructive development cooperation policies, norms and work guidelines, and establish a corresponding special project library., thus forming a scale effect of China’s investment in these fields, thereby further enhancing its contribution to the global development agenda, improving development effects and local recognition.
Fifth, actively explore the participation of Chinese enterprises and non-governmental organizations.On the one hand, enterprises are the specific carriers of China’s foreign aid, foreign investment, and foreign trade; on the other hand, in existing international development cooperation, enterprises are non-traditional, emerging actors, and they are also the key players in development financing issues. important subject. Slightly different from this is that non-governmental organizations are important implementation entities and civil forces in international development cooperation; and for China's foreign aid as a whole, especially according to the "China's Foreign Aid" jointly promulgated by three ministries and commissions in August 2021 Management Measures", has been given more application qualifications and roles to participate in project implementation. So, there is currently no clear answer as to how companies and NGOs can leverage their respective strengths under global development initiatives, how to accept guidance from various departments and ministries, and how to cooperate with international multilateral, regional and bilateral mechanisms and institutions.
References:
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/zyxw/202109/t20210922_9584018.shtml
https://nzchinasociety.org.nz/global-development-initiative-a-letter-from-ambassador-wang-xiaolong/
http://new.fmprc.gov.cn/wjbxw_new/202201/t20220113_10492172.shtml
http://un.china-mission.gov.cn/chn/hyyfy/202201/t20220121_10631365.htm
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/web/wjbz_673089/zyjh_673099/202205/t20220509_10683620.shtml
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https://www.mfa.gov.cn/web/zyxw/202206/t20220624_10709803.shtml
http://www.cidca.gov.cn/2022-06/29/c_1211662023.htm
