In response to the economic downturn, social exclusion, and substantive setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the Global Development Initiative (GDI) on September 21, 2021, as a pathway to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for stronger, greener, and more balanced global development, and foster a global community of development. He stated in the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly that in the face of the severe shocks of the coronavirus pandemic, the world needs to work together to steer global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated, and inclusive growth. From its onset, the GDI has received warm responses from the international community. More than 100 countries have expressed support for the Initiative, which shows the international consensus on accelerating development and facilitating practical cooperation. Afterwards, the Group of Friends of the GDI was launched at the UN in January 2022, and more than 55 countries have joined it to date.

The GDI calls on the world to stay committed to development as a priority, to a people-centered approach, to benefits for all, to innovation-driven development, to harmony between man and nature, and to action-oriented approaches. It involves international cooperation and efforts to support less developed countries, especially those the pandemic hit particularly hard. The initiative’s goals include eight areas, i.e., alleviating poverty, safeguarding global food security, protecting human health, financing sustainable development, promoting green and low-carbon development, promoting industrialization in developing countries, promoting digital economy for common prosperity and inclusive development as well as enhancing connectivity in the digital era.

Since the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) launch, the six countries have joined hands and worked in solidarity to promote the high-level development of the new sub-regional mechanism, successfully setting a golden example of regional cooperation and bringing tangible benefits to the people of the six countries. As part of cooperative efforts, Mekong Institute (MI) proposed to implement a project entitled “Global Development Initiative Leverages Sustainable Development in the Lancang-Mekong Region” with the aim of identifying how the GDI could boost sustainable development in the Lancang-Mekong Region as well as supporting LMC Goals.

In this regard, MI, with the support of the People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China (P.R. China), is organizing a webinar on “Advancing Sustainable Development in the Lancang-Mekong Region through Global Development Initiative.” The event will bring together opinion leaders, development practitioners, and business experts to better understand GDI and explore the synergy between the GDI and LMC.

• To exchange ideas for a better understanding of the GDI
• To explore the strategies, interventions, and approaches of synergizing the GDI and LMC Action Plans to leverage sustainable development
• To build partnerships and seek further collaboration across governments and multi-sectoral groups for sustainable development

The target participants are government officials, representatives of international organizations, academia, businesses, and NGOs who are involved in the sustainable development field in the Lancang-Mekong Region.

Ms. Tina Wang
Program Manager, Sustainable Energy and Environment Department Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 4320 2411 ext. 4101
Fax: +66 4320 3656
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Chakdao Sudsanguan
Program Facilitator, Sustainable Energy and Environment Department Mekong Institute
Tel: +66 4320 2411 ext. 4106
Fax: +66 4320 3656
Email: [email protected]