The speech State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave via video link on the issuing of a global development report shows the great significance the country attaches to promoting global development.

Issued by the Center for International Knowledge on Development of China, the report reviews the progress that has been made toward achieving the targets set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. It also expounds on the challenges that need to be overcome to realize the 2030 Agenda.

It underscores that in the face of the major changes taking place in the world and the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community should be more focused on development cooperation and on building global partnerships, embrace the digital and green transformation, and strive for common, sustainable development.

The report also lays out policy recommendations in the eight aspects of the Global Development Initiative that President Xi Jinping proposed at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.

As Wang said, development is an eternal endeavor of humanity and a major yardstick for the progress of the times. However, since the 2030 Agenda was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, the world has faced unprecedented challenges. The pandemic, regional conflicts, major-power rivalry, and the backlash against globalization and other complicated factors are all intertwined with each other. Those are hindering the realization of the Agenda.

Global poverty reduction has been gravely set back with over 800 million people still living in extreme poverty, while development is getting more and more marginalized on the international priority list as countries reduce their development assistance amid their own economic travails.

That explains why the Global Development Initiative Xi proposed has been supported by more than 100 countries as a key patch file to ensure the 2030 Agenda is realized on time. The initiative aims at building a global community of development. It puts people at the center, and seeks to promote stronger, greener and healthier global development. The policy recommendations in the newly released report put flesh on the bones of the initiative.

The serial events under the framework of BRICS to be held this week will again demonstrate China's commitment to true multilateralism and an open and inclusive spirit of partnership.

As one of the first countries adopting a national plan on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the largest developing country, China has been a consistent advocate for global development cooperation.

The release of the report shows China's willingness to actively share its development expertise and experience, and work with all parties to build a global community of development.