The China-aided Mauritania Livestock Technology Demonstration Center in Mauritania, which is primarily located in the desert, has not only provided sufficient forage crops for local cattle and sheep but also helped train a large number of professionals in animal husbandry since its establishment in 2017.
"My income is more stable, and I've learned a lot about modern livestock farming," Amadou Diarra said while glancing toward the green pastures nearby.
Similar to the center, China has launched many "small and beautiful" livelihood projects in recent years, which are characterized by being people-centered, small-scale, and well-grounded.
Such projects are expected to flourish everywhere as Premier Li Qiang announced China will launch another 2,000 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects in developing countries over the next five years during a speech at a high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI). China held this event on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) general debate on Tuesday.
These livelihood projects have become a vivid example of implementing the GDI, according to the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
First proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021, the GDI has since become an important global public good. More than 130 countries and international organizations have participated in the implementation mechanism of the GDI, Li noted.
A significant milestone was achieved in 2022 with the formation of the GDI Group of Friends, which now includes over 80 countries. Assem Hanafi, Egypt's former ambassador to China, whose country is a member of the GDI Group of Friends, emphasized that the GDI provides an inclusive platform for sharing development experiences – an essential tool for speeding up progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The importance of the GDI was further emphasized on Tuesday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said that the GDI can be an essential tool to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the general debate at the 80th session of the UNGA.
The UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, which aims to eliminate poverty, promote equality, tackle climate change, and achieve other sustainable development goals by 2030.
Yet, with only five years left, progress remains very uneven. At the SDG Moment event, held during the ongoing High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UNGA on Monday, UNGA President Annalena Baerbock said that only 35 percent of the SDGs are on track, 47 percent are making insufficient progress, and 18 percent have regressed.
Baerbock added that development will only be fair and sustainable if it makes space for voices that are often ignored, and if we combine our efforts and show solidarity with one another.
The challenge is worsened by the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, which have disrupted international development cooperation and slowed global economic growth. In response, Premier Li reaffirmed China's commitment to collaborate with all parties to advance the GDI and accelerate the rollout of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to revitalize global progress.
While calling for creating a stable and open international development environment, jointly safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core, adhering to multilateralism and free trade and striving to build an open world economy, Li urged efforts to build a balanced and inclusive development partnership, take greater care of the needs of developing countries, and actively address unbalanced and inadequate development.
Li stated that China will always be a supporter and promoter of common development, taking more active actions and demonstrating its due responsibility.