Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, 大家下午好,
 
欢迎 大家 参加 2024年 中国 与 国际发展 论坛.

As we gather today, our world faces profound challenges: the lingering socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing inequalities within and across countries, the escalating climate emergency, and regional conflicts – these challenges all demand urgent, collective action.

With less than six years remaining until the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global trajectory remains deeply concerning. Only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third have stalled or are even regressing.[1]

Overstretched by compounding demands and rapidly-evolving contexts, national and international institutions and governance frameworks are struggling to effectively support stakeholders in addressing the complexities of our time.

Because of this, strengthened partnerships to create and share innovative development solutions, facilitated by multilateral platforms, are essential to building a sustainable and inclusive future. And that is why today’s forum on "Deepening Reform and Expanding Cooperation” is so timely.

The SDGs cannot be realized by any one country alone. They require all stakeholders to work together across borders, strengthen institutions, foster innovation, and take collective actions to respond to the needs of a rapidly changing global context.

Indeed, the Pact for the Future adopted earlier this year to accelerate SDG progress, is a global recognition of this fact. In signing up to the new Pact, UN Member States, including China, have demonstrated renewed commitment to jointly driving action towards sustainable development.

In this regard, with its growing role in international development cooperation China’s efforts to systematically embed the principles and objectives of the 2030 Agenda in its engagements with partner countries will be critical. This includes initiatives under the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund – through which China is looking to cooperate with multilateral organizations such as UNDP – and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund – set up on a UN platform to provide much needed financing in support of conservation efforts in developing countries.