Global Development Initiative and Active Non-alignment Mutually Enriching

Niu Qingbao

December 5, 2023

Estimado Sr. Carlos Ominami, Ex Senador y Director de Fundación Chile 21

Estimado Sr. Sergio Bitar, Exministro, exSenador y Presidente del Consejo Chileno de Prosepectiva y Estrategia

Estimada Sra. Dorotea Lopez, Directora Instituto de Estudios Internationales de la Universidad de Chile

Amigas y amigos,

Buenos dias!

It’s my great pleasure to co-host Thinking about a Multipolar World with China to launch the collected papers of last year’s seminars on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Active Non-alignment.

Last year, Chile 21 Foundation, the International Studies Institute of the University of Chile, the Permanent Forum of Foreign Policy and the Chinese Embassy co-hosted two seminars on the GDI and Active Non-alignment where Chinese and Chilean scholars conducted in-depth, inspiring and fruitful exchanges. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy and in my own name, I hereby extend the heartiest thanks to Mr. Carlos Ominami, Ambassadors Fernandez Matta and Jorge Heine, Executive Director Daniel Grimaldi and former Executive Director Jose Roa for their extraordinary contribution, without which neither the seminars nor this collected papers would have been possible.

The GDI intends to build consensus on promoting development, gather development resources, revitalize the 2030 Agenda and opens new and broad prospect for Latin America to better master its own destiny and better safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Active Non-alignment emphasis on Latin American independence, autonomy and solidarity coincides with the concept of China-Latin America partnership and our common pursuit of multilateralism and south-south cooperation. By campaigning for and exploring methods of implementing the GDI and Active Non-alignment, Chinese and Chilean scholars are doing their best to answer the calls of our times.

Since the seminars were held a year ago, the GDI and Active Non-alignment have seen steady progress and played an active role in China-Latin America partnership for development and jointly addressing global challenges. Peru, Nicaragua and Bolivia have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI or signed MoUs with China on implementing the GDI. The first 50 practical cooperation projects included in the first list of projects in the GDI project pool, which focus on poverty reduction, food security, industrialization and other fields are already benefiting countries such as Peru, al Salvador, Cuba and Bolivia. China has also offered 1000 capacity building programs for member countries of the Group of Friends. Inspired by the concept of Active Non-alignment, Latin America, especially south America, is witnessing an acceleration of regional integration. Solidarity in opposing hegemonism, interventionism and a new “cold war” has become a consensus in the region, forming a solid foundation for China-Latin America cooperation.

Facing a world of uncertainties and conflicts, China and Latin America, both being members of the Global South, should join hands and strive for world peace and common development and play an active, stabilizing and constructive role in today’s world. China invites more Latin American countries to be partners of the GDI, prioritize development in their international agenda and foster new drivers for development. China also welcomes more Latin American countries to join in the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), pursue common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. More partners of the GSI means stronger force for safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. More members of the GCI gives more hope of cultural exchange transcending estrangement, mutual learning transcending clashes, and coexistence transcending feelings of superiority.

Chile was the first country in South America to establish diplomatic relationship with China. China-Chile relations have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with Latin American countries. A few weeks ago, President Boric participated the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and paid a state visit to China. Our heads of state reached important consensus on aligning our development strategies and learning from each other in state governance. The two sides signed an MoU on the implementation of the GDI and voiced our support for the GDI, the GSI and GCI in our joint declaration. I expect scholars from both countries to fully utilize these papers, build consensus on safeguarding world peace, multilateralism and globalization, offer advice and suggestions on how to better implement the three major initiatives, and make sure that China Chile relations continue to be a role model of China’s relations with other Latin American countries.

Muchas gracias!