Speakers:
Mr. Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA)
Mr. Zhao Fengtao, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Mr. Deng Boqing, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Mr. Tang Wenhong, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Mr. Zhong Haidong, vice chairman of the CIDCA
Chairperson:
Ms. Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
Oct. 31, 2023
Shou Xiaoli:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 28th briefing in the series "Embarking on the New Journey — A Government Perspective." Today, we will brief you on the topic of continuously promoting global development cooperation and foreign assistance. Present today are Mr. Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), along with Mr. Zhao Fengtao, Mr. Deng Boqing, Mr. Tang Wenhong and Mr. Zhong Haidong, vice chairmen of the CIDCA.
Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Luo for his introduction.
Luo Zhaohui:
Thank you, Ms. Shou. Friends from the media, we are living in an era of prosperity, but the world is far from peaceful. Regional conflicts are on the rise, major power competitions are intensifying, and the post-pandemic economic recovery is challenging. In contrast, China's development is remarkable. Developing countries have significantly raised expectations for us. Not long ago, I accompanied Chinese leaders on a visit to Indonesia, and we took a test ride on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. I was deeply impressed by the genuine gratitude and joy of the local people.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi Jinping has assessed the global situation, led the trend of the times, and proposed new ideas and strategies, including building a global community of shared future, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Global Development Initiative (GDI). He advocates for the greater good and shared interests, the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, good faith, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and contributes to global common development by offering Chinese solutions, wisdom and strength. China's global development cooperation and foreign assistance are keeping pace with the times, excelling in both internal and external aspects, presenting a new outlook and achieving new development.
First, we have improved the foreign assistance mechanism and system. In 2018, the CPC Central Committee made significant adjustments to the foreign assistance mechanism and system, establishing the CIDCA directly under the State Council. This agency is responsible for international development cooperation and foreign aid work.
Second, we have continuously increased capital investment. China's foreign assistance budget has been increasing year by year. Within the framework of the GDI, the CIDCA, for the first time, mobilized a special fund of $12 billion from domestic and foreign financial institutions this year. It represents a significant breakthrough in our global development cooperation financing model, as our previous development assistance primarily relied on government funds. This time, it involves financing from both domestic and foreign financial institutions. In addition to fully utilizing traditional forms of foreign assistance, such as grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, we have launched reforms in foreign aid methods, such as debt swaps and a combination of foreign aid with trade and investment.
Third, we continue to advance and upgrade our foreign assistance toward global development cooperation. We adhere to the distinctive Chinese foreign assistance model while aligning with international practices. We are gradually shifting from traditional foreign assistance, which primarily relies on government-to-government bilateral, one-way "blood transfusion" assistance with government resources, toward a transformation and upgrading of international development cooperation that involves more multilateral or bilateral approaches, multiple participating entities, multi-directional synergy, and increased resource inputs. For this reason, five years ago our agency was named the China International Development Cooperation Agency, rather than the China Foreign Assistance Agency.
Fourth, we have strengthened the supervision and evaluation of foreign assistance. When the CIDCA was established, we created a supervision and evaluation department to ensure the quality of foreign assistance projects through supervision and evaluation, as well as the responsible allocation of every dollar of foreign assistance funds. Last week, we held the Second Sunshine Forum on International Development Cooperation to promote clean foreign assistance.
Under the guidance and leadership of President Xi Jinping, the past 10 years has been China's most active, effective and biggest contributing decade in leading and shaping international development cooperation and foreign assistance, and fully participating in global governance.
First, we have been leading global cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with a once-in-a-century pandemic, under the direct command of President Xi Jinping, the CIDCA initiated the largest and longest-lasting emergency humanitarian relief effort since the founding of the People's Republic of China. In nearly three years, we provided substantial pandemic relief supplies to 153 countries and 15 international organizations, dispatched medical expert teams to 34 countries, and supplied over 2.3 billion vaccine doses to more than 110 countries and four international organizations. In the five years since our agency's establishment, three years were particularly dedicated to this work. We contributed a large number of vaccines and pandemic relief supplies; especially, the number of vaccine doses we donated even exceeded the total provided by all other countries in the world.
Second, we have been promoting high-quality BRI cooperation. The BRI covers both land and maritime regions, spanning from east to west, connecting the past and present, and benefiting generations to come. Over the past decade, we have implemented more than 2,000 assistance projects in over 120 BRI partner countries, established over 80 economic and trade cooperation zones, mobilized nearly $1 trillion in investment, trained over 100,000 professionals in various sectors, and lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty.
Third, we have been fully implementing the GDI. In 2021, President Xi Jinping introduced the GDI, and later launched 32 major implementation measures. This initiative is a significant enhancement and expansion of the BRI and has received support from over 100 countries, as well as various international organizations including the United Nations (U.N.). Under our agency's coordination, the GDI's project and funding pools are now operating smoothly, with over 200 small-yet-smart projects implemented. This July, we hosted the inaugural high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development , with more than 150 countries and international organizations participating. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the event.
Fourth, we have made every effort to promote "small yet smart" livelihood d programs. In Cambodia, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, and other countries, we have carried out a variety of such programs, including drilling wells, building houses and rural roads, as well as offering medical care, which have proven to be highly effective and delivered more benefits to local people. Recently, Mr. Tang completed his visit to Africa. Earlier this year, he announced the launch of the Juncao project in Fiji, which is regarded as a regional center in the South Pacific, to promote technology that uses grass to grow mushrooms. This program has significantly improved the living standards of the local people. These signature "small yet smart" foreign assistance projects, including Juncao technology for mushroom farming, hybrid rice growing, the use of artemisinin, providing access to satellite TV to a total of 10,000 villages, and the Brightness Action program, have earned wide recognition from the international community. Furthermore, we have shared the Chinese model of modernization with other countries. We have established the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University. Over the past seven years, more than 400 officials from over 70 countries have obtained their master's or doctor's degrees from this institute, with many of them becoming officials at or above the deputy ministerial level. The Confucius Institute and Luban Workshop have trained a large number of professionals to be proficient in Chinese. Hundreds of overseas demonstration villages for poverty alleviation and agricultural demonstration centers have also put into practice China's successful experience in poverty relief and agricultural development.
Fifth, we have actively carried out humanitarian aid. Over the past 10 years, we have provided emergency aid on more than 1,000 occasions to more than 70 countries. During the recent Palestine-Israel conflict, we have provided humanitarian aid in the first place, with additional supplies already en route. We were the first to extend an all-around relief to quake-hit Turkey and Syria. We made considerable efforts last year to assist Pakistan in coping with devastating floods. Since last year, we have provided emergency food assistance to more than 30 countries.
Sixth, we have focused on enhancing multilateral and trilateral cooperation. Entering the new era, we have worked with more than 20 international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to carry out third-party cooperation on poverty alleviation, food security, public health, climate change, and environmental protection. More than 130 projects have been launched in over 60 countries, benefiting over 30 million people.
As the saying goes, when you give others roses, their fragrance lingers on your hand. By promoting global development cooperation and foreign assistance, developing countries mutually support one another, fostering benefits for all parties involved. We don't ask for returns, yet we have forged profound friendships with developing countries and their people.
That concludes my opening remarks. Next, my colleagues and I will answer your questions. Thank you.
