PM reaffirms support for China's GDI

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast commitment to the Global Development Initiative (GDI), hailing it as a vital platform for fostering solidarity, enhancing South-South cooperation and delivering tangible results for the developing nations. Addressing a high-level GDI meeting hosted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA session in New York, the prime minister praised the initiative's foresight. He noted that three years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the landmark proposal when it was uniquely needed. In a statement broadcast on national Tv channels, the prime minister highlighted that the goals of GDI also complemented their own national economic transformation plan. "Our cooperation with China also continues through the Belt and Road Initiative and its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is now entering into its second phase. As we approach 2030, Pakistan stands ready to deepen cooperation with all partners under the GDI by replicating successful projects at scale and identifying new and innovative areas of cooperation," he added. The prime minister said three years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Xi Jinping had put forward the landmark Global Development Initiative (GDI), a proposal that was far ahead of its time. Today, he opined the wisdom and vision of President Xi Jinping behind that decision is recognized by the world, adding with only six years left to the 2030 deadline, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals remained inadequate and slow. The prime minister underlined that the growing SDGs financing gap, frequent and severe climate disasters, rising food and fuel prices, intensified by the resurgence of geopolitical tensions, continued to reverse decades of gains in the developing countries. Responding to these challenges, he called for strengthened multilateral cooperation, as advocated by the People's Republic of China; terming its GDI as very timely. The prime minister said that they could bear witness that the framework of the GDI has already translated into substantial and practical benefits across the developing world, delivered in the true spirit of 'win-win cooperation'. He further said the Global Development Initiative also remains essential for accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda.