China is the fastest
growing economy in the world by all means at the moment. One positive thing
about the Chinese people is the understanding that at one particular point in
history, they were not doing well. They experienced challenges and now that
they are in a position to help other move up the ladder, they are willing to do
it in order to impact positively on the lives of many other people across continents.
While addressing a high
level roundtable on South-South Cooperation at UN headquarters in New York,
President Xi Jinping announced China’s participation in a massive 600 new
projects that are geared to helping the developing countries on trade and
poverty reduction. It is in this discussion the Chinese president took the
opportunity to stress the commitment of his nation to South-South cooperation.
He said that China remained as committed as ever to this cooperation.
In a well-orchestrated
plan spread out over a period of five years, in its effort to reduce poverty, China
would initiate 100 new projects that would tackle this cancer. To promote
agriculture China would initiate 100 projects. A further 100 projects will be
established to promote trade. China is committed to preservation and
conservation of the environment in order to tackle the glaring problems
occasioned by climatic change. As such another 100 projects dealing with
ecological preservation and climatic change will be set up. On health
development, China will initiate projects that will see construction and
development of 100 new hospitals and clinics. To promote education and
intellectual development, 100 schools and vocational training centers will also
be set up.
To show its commitment
to South –South Cooperation, China will also set up a South –South Cooperation
and Development Academy to aid in training half a million technical personnel
from developing countries. In addition to this, it will offer $2 million in
assistance to World Health Organization.
Xi added that there
will be more deliberate communication and exchanges with developed countries
and a greater participation of businesses and the private sector to build
multi-tiered partnerships and help in creating a community of shared interests
among various stakeholders.
The President emphasized
on the need of the South-South Cooperation to deliver practical results and
take the approach of result orientation rather than just empty talk. He pointed
out that projects should yield tangible results that create better, economic,
social and environmental impacts for the benefit of the general public.
UN Secretary –General
Ban Ki-moon, a co-host of the roundtable with China took his time to sincerely
thank China for its support and commitment to nations of the global south. He
said, “All this Support will go a long way to address the needs of the poor and
the most vulnerable and contribute political momentum for the success of the
climatic negotiations in Paris in December. “He further added that as the UN
tried to implement the 2030 sustainable-development agenda, it would be
paramount to widely share the effective policies and practices that China and
other fast-growing economies in the global south are employing.
In terms of contributions,
China contributes more than $4 Billion of aid towards South- South Cooperation
on a yearly basis.Erstwhile to the high
level roundtable Gyan Chandra Acharya, undersecretary-general at the UN and a
representative of the least developed countries confirmed that China is an
example of a developing country that was able to transform its economy and lift
millions of its people out of poverty thus setting a mark for many other
nations. Gyan further stated that it was possible to change the narrative of
the world that focuses on the myriad of challenges and the big issues facing a
certain country. To him you should look at the possibilities. People can
achieve success if there is global collaboration and cooperation. To Gyan China
had demonstrated this aspect.
Xi said that China as a
developing country is aiming at enhancing solidarity and cooperation with other
developing countries in order to create an unshakable foundation of China’s
foreign relations. He added that the country would share with developing
countries more development opportunities.
“The profound
friendship between the Chinese people and people of other developing countries
are our most valuable asset. We will as always promote our development along
with the common development of all developing countries, align our efforts to
realize the Chinese dream with the endeavors by other developing countries to
attain their dreams for a better life for their people and pursue common
progress of all developing countries. China will never waver on this
commitment, not under any circumstance.” Xi said.
