China’s GDI marks five years, Caribbean benefits highlighted

China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) is marking its fifth anniversary, with Beijing pointing to billions of dollars mobilised and more than 1,800 projects implemented as evidence of the initiative’s growing impact across the developing world.

The GDI was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021 during the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It was presented as a framework to place development at the centre of the international agenda and accelerate progress towards the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

In an article reflecting on the five-year milestone, China’s Ambassador to Grenada, H.E. Yang Shu, said the initiative has grown from a Chinese proposal into a broader platform for international development cooperation, particularly among countries of the Global South.

According to Ambassador Yang, more than 130 countries and international organisations have expressed support for or participated in GDI cooperation frameworks, while nearly 100 countries and regional organisations have signed cooperation documents.

The Group of Friends of the GDI has also expanded to 88 member states, while more than 30 cooperation mechanisms and platforms have been established to support development capacity in countries of the Global South.

Ambassador Yang said more than US$23 billion has been mobilised through mechanisms including the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.

Those resources have supported more than 1,800 projects, while over 200,000 professionals have received training in various fields. The initiative, she said, has brought benefits to people in more than 120 countries, particularly in areas such as food security, healthcare and disaster resilience.

For the Caribbean, Ambassador Yang said the initiative provides a framework for addressing challenges facing Small Island Developing States, including climate vulnerability, high energy costs, infrastructure constraints and limited economic diversification.

He pointed to Grenada as one example, highlighting cooperation with China in agriculture, infrastructure, housing, human-resource development and sport.

Chinese agricultural experts have been working with Grenadian farmers to improve cultivation techniques, productivity and food security. China has also supported the reconstruction and expansion of the Kirani James Athletic Stadium and the National Cricket Stadium.

A 1,000-unit low-income housing programme has meanwhile provided homes for Grenadian families, while more than 680 Grenadians have participated in training programmes in China so far this year in areas including public health, agricultural science, disaster management and digital literacy.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Yang called for greater international cooperation to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda, increased development financing and greater access to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

He also stressed the need for reforms to international financial institutions and greater recognition of the vulnerabilities facing small island states.

The ambassador said the GDI's fifth anniversary reinforces the principle that development should be pursued through cooperation and shared responsibility, with developing countries given greater opportunities to participate in and benefit from global growth.