Global Development Initiative Comes to Fruition inSudan
This article is written by Mr. Xu Jian, Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Sudan. Please publish it in your website.
In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping put
forward the innovative Global Development Initiative (GDI). In the
ensuing five years, the initiative has garnered widespread recognition from the
international community, winning the applause and support of over 100 countries
including Sudan, as well as the United Nations (U.N.) and other international
organizations. More than 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the
GDI. Evolved from China’s proposal to an international consensus, and from a
cooperation concept to joint action, the GDI has made substantial progress,
serving as a strong driving force to implement the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, bridge development gaps and build a better world.
Sudan is a country that boasts significant
geographical advantages, abundant resources, and immense potential for
development. However, it has been plagued by the ongoing internal armed
conflicts, with its economic and social development facing even more daunting
challenges. Despite this, the GDI has taken root and delivered real results in
Sudan, translating itself from an aspirational goal to concrete actions for the
country’s benefit. It sets a fine example of global development and South-South
cooperation.
China’s supply of emergency aid reflects the
people-centered philosophy.
Upholding a people-centered approach, the GDI gives top priority to addressing
the most urgent survival needs of the people. Since the outbreak of armed
conflicts in Sudan in April 2023, the country has been confronted with a
deteriorating food insecurity situation. In this context, the Chinese
government, despite various difficulties, activated the emergency assistance
mechanism within the shortest possible time, sending humanitarian supplies in
batches to Sudan. To date, China has provided over 2,000 tons of emergency food
assistance to Sudan, along with a large number of essential medical supplies,
anti-epidemic supplies and relief and resettlement materials. China’s timely assistance
ensures the basic living needs of tens of thousands of local families, which
fully demonstrates its commitment to the principle of putting life first, just
as advocated by the GDI, and to the spirit of international humanitarianism.
China’s efforts to share both “fish” and “how to
fish” are committed to sustainable development. Emphasizing development as priority, the GDI is
intended to advance sustainable development of various countries. To this end,
China has been providing government scholarships to the Sudanese side and
offered various training opportunities as well, in an effort to help Sudan with
its human resources development. Besides, China has funded the poverty
alleviation and agricultural assistance project in Sudan’s Red Sea State and
the sustainable fishery development project. China provided seeds, agricultural
machinery and fishing equipment to local households of farmers, fishermen and
herders, and introduced measures such as animal epidemic prevention and
watershed governance to help with the recovery of Sudan’s agriculture,
livestock, and fisheries sectors, making positive contributions to Sudan’s
endeavor to ensure food security, keep improving livelihoods and generate
stronger development impetus. The assistance from China is not merely giving,
but sowing seeds of hope, which will eventually grow into towering trees.
Coordination and cooperation bring multilateralism
into practice. The GDI’s implementation
in Sudan stands as an exemplary practice of multilateralism. As the saying
goes, “The fire burns high when everyone adds wood to it.” In supporting Sudan’s
development, China does not act alone but collaborates with the U.N. and other
international multilateral agencies. Specifically, China and the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have collaborated in successfully completing the
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Project in Sudan. And now, China and the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working together
to smoothly advance the poverty alleviation and agricultural assistance project
in Sudan’s Red Sea State and the sustainable fishery development project. It
should be highlighted that the Global Development and South-South Cooperation
Fund initiated and supported by China has become a major resource platform
supporting multilateral cooperation between China and Sudan.
The year 2026 is the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic
relations between China and African countries, as well as between China and
Arab countries. It also marks the start of the second decade for China-Sudan
strategic partnership. In this memorable year, the China-Africa Year of
People-to-People Exchanges has been launched, and the second China-Arab States
Summit is about to be hosted by China. Not long ago, China announced the
zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with
China starting from May 1, 2026. Against this backdrop, the Sino-Sudanese relationship
and shared development will face valuable, new opportunities. We are convinced
that with the concerted efforts of both sides, the GDI is bound to thrive and
yield more fruitful results in Sudan.
