China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), launched in 2021, was lauded on Tuesday in Beijing for the concrete benefits it has delivered across more than a hundred countries, diplomats and experts said at a high-level meeting marking its five-year milestone.
Global Development Initiative: a five-year review
Since its 2021 proposal, the GDI has gathered support from more than 130 countries and international organizations. Nearly 100 partners have signed cooperation agreements with China, and the GDI’s “Group of Friends” now includes 88 countries, according to figures presented in Beijing.
Measurable results on the ground
The initiative reports having mobilized over $23 billion and implemented more than 1,800 so-called “small and beautiful” projects, in addition to training over 200,000 professionals. Speakers said these efforts have produced tangible benefits for communities in more than 120 countries, particularly in education, food security, and health.
Technology and development: AI and data serving developing countries
China emphasized the deployment of digital technologies under the GDI. The establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), signed by China and 28 other countries at the World AI Conference 2026, exemplifies this direction. The AI-assisted weather alert system was among the initiatives mentioned. (Original text appears to be truncated.)
