Premier Li Qiang Addresses UN High-Level Meeting on Global Development Initiative in New York

Premier Li Qiang Calls for Global Development Cooperation at UN Meeting

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended and delivered a significant address at the High-level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 23, 2025. The meeting, hosted by China, aimed to foster greater consensus and synergy for global development, drawing participation from numerous heads of state, government officials, and international organization leaders.

In his remarks, Premier Li Qiang underscored China's readiness to collaborate with all parties to further implement the GDI and accelerate the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He highlighted the current global challenges, including rising unilateralism, protectionism, strained international development cooperation, and weakened world economic growth.

Key Proposals and Commitments

Premier Li Qiang put forward a four-pronged proposal to reinvigorate global development. He called for creating a stable and open international development environment, emphasizing the need to safeguard the UN-centered international system, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and build an open world economy. He also urged for the cultivation of future-oriented drivers of innovation and development, advocating for strengthened international scientific and technological cooperation and opposing practices that 'build walls and barriers' in technology.

A notable announcement from Premier Li was China's commitment to not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This move was lauded by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Additionally, China pledged to continue providing funds to the WTO to assist least developed countries in integrating into the global trading system. The Premier also revealed plans for China to implement another 2,000 'small and beautiful' livelihood projects in developing countries over the next five years and introduced a new 'AI+ International Cooperation Initiative'.

The Global Development Initiative in Context

The GDI, initially proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the UN General Assembly in 2021, is designed to advance the broadest common interests of humanity and accelerate the UN 2030 Agenda. Described as a 'widely popular international public good,' the initiative has seen participation from over 130 countries and international organizations. Over the past four years, the GDI has mobilized more than 23 billion U.S. dollars to support development efforts in the Global South.

The initiative is guided by six core principles, including prioritizing development, a people-centered approach, benefits for all, innovation-driven development, harmony between humanity and nature, and results-oriented actions. It focuses on eight priority areas such as poverty alleviation, food security, financing for development, and climate change.

International Response

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked China for hosting the high-level meeting, stating that the GDI 'can be an important mechanism to help accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda around the world.' Guterres also highlighted the pressing global challenges, including economic uncertainty, fiscal constraints, geopolitical tensions, and climate risk, underscoring the critical need for effective and coordinated international cooperation.