The Global Development Initiative, first proposed by China, conforms to the trend of global development, responds to the difficulties faced by countries, former leaders, senior officials and experts said.

The GDI places development issues at the center of the global cooperation agenda, and promotes the international community to pay more attention to the situation of developing countries, they said at a webinar held by United Nations Association of China on Tuesday.

At the webinar, participants discussed "Practicing True Multilateralism and Revitalizing the Global Partnership for Development", and "Accelerating the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the GDI".

The GDI will build consensus, mobilize resources, and take actions to accelerate the implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, they said.

In his opening speech, Wang Chao, president of United Nations Association of China, stated that the world is undergoing once-in-a-century changes and the impact of COVID-19, and the global development has been seriously undermined.

Some developing countries have returned to poverty and chaos due to the pandemic, and even the life of many people in developed countries are in trouble, he noted.

Meanwhile, a new round of scientific and technological revolution is booming, and new business forms and models of digital economy and green economy are emerging, bringing new impetus and new opportunities for economic recovery, he added.

At a time when the global development has suffered setbacks, China solemnly put forward the GDI, which is intended to appeal to the international community to form joint force to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and promote stronger, greener and healthier global development, Wang said.

The GDI highlights the theme of the times of peace and development and is a global public good, he said.

The GDI closely follows the agenda of the UN, provides an accelerator for promoting the achievement of SDGs, and supports the UN to play a greater role in global governance, Wang noted, adding that the GDI is open to the world and welcomes all parties to join, and it is a re-boost to the global partnership for development.

Wang stressed that the GDI provides framework and implementation path for global common development and international development cooperation.