China Says Global Development Initiative Wins Support of 130 Nations, Mobilises $23bn for Projects

China says its Global Development Initiative (GDI) has secured the support of more than 130 countries and international organisations, while mobilising over $23 billion to fund development projects across the Global South since its launch five years ago.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative in Beijing, marking the fifth anniversary of the initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.

Wang said the initiative had evolved from a Chinese proposal into a global platform for development cooperation, with nearly 100 countries and international and regional organisations signing cooperation agreements with China.

According to him, the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative has expanded to 88 member countries, while more than 30 cooperation mechanisms and platforms have been established to strengthen development capacity in developing nations.

He said over $23 billion has been raised through the China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and other financing arrangements, supporting more than 1,800 livelihood projects and training over 200,000 professionals in more than 120 countries.

The minister cited initiatives such as juncao technology for poverty reduction, the Sustainable Development Science Satellite-1 (SDGSAT-1) for data sharing, and the MAZU platform for weather forecasting and disaster risk reduction as examples of the programme’s achievements.

Wang warned that progress towards the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains behind schedule, with widening development gaps between developed and developing countries posing significant challenges.

He called on the international community to place development at the centre of the global agenda by increasing financial resources, expanding technology sharing and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

The Chinese foreign minister also urged greater collaboration to bridge digital and artificial intelligence gaps, noting that China, alongside 28 other countries, recently launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) to promote inclusive AI development and governance.

He further advocated reforms to the global economic and financial system, calling on developed nations to honour their development financing commitments and support preparations for the United Nations’ post-2030 development framework.

Reaffirming China’s commitment to multilateralism, Wang said Beijing would continue implementing the Global Development Initiative and deepen cooperation with developing countries to advance shared prosperity.

He also highlighted China’s economic resilience, saying the country recorded 4.7 per cent GDP growth in the first half of 2026 despite global energy challenges and disruptions to international industrial and supply chains.

“The certainty China offers is a valuable asset in an uncertain world,” Wang said, adding that China would continue to align its development with global progress and contribute to sustainable development worldwide.