15 December, Beijing - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China and the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce of China (CAITEC/MOFCOM) organized a forum in Beijing today, convening key stakeholders to discuss critical issues on leveraging global development partnerships to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
 
Initiated by CAITEC in 2020, the China and International Development Forum has become an annual event providing a platform for dialogue on China’s foreign assistance and International Development Cooperation (IDC), with this year being the fourth iteration of the event.
 
As of 2023, nearly half of the SDGs are moderately or severely off track, and 37 percent are stagnating or even regressing below their 2015 benchmarks.[1] There is an urgent need to renew momentum for inclusive cooperation and partnerships for sustainable development through innovative thinking and experience-sharing across a wide range of stakeholders.
 
“More must be done and must be done fast. Only through collective efforts, and by continuing to raise our ambition levels, can we hope to set the world back on a trajectory towards a sustainable future,” said Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative of UNDP in China, in her welcome remarks. "Strengthened international development cooperation is essential to drive forward global progress on the SDGs and maximize effectiveness in light of scarce resources and ever-growing demands.”
 
The forum brought together both traditional and emerging stakeholders, including from government and embassies, international organizations, financing institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society. 
 
Participants exchanged best practices, standards, and norms to accelerate SDG progress in China and partner countries.
 
“As China is speeding up its transition from aid to international development cooperation, open communication and close collaboration among government, private sectors, and academia are necessary to facilitate the smooth transition,” said Gu Xueming, President of CAITEC. 
 
Li Junhua, the Under-Secretary-General of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, pointed out that, “When the heads of state and government gather at the 2024 Summit of the Future, it will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the gaps in global governance and pave the way towards a multilateral system that improves people’s lives around the world.” 
 
H.E. Khamis Mussa Omar, Ambassador of Tanzania to China, emphasized, “The developing countries were plagued with limited fiscal base due to under-developed economies, poverty, and relatively high debt burdens. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the most pressing capital funds.” 
 
Keynote speakers offered insights on inclusive partnerships, SDG financing, and how to enhance dialogues and collaboration to facilitate the achievement of SDGs.  
 
They were followed by two panel discussions. The first session saw panelists share experiences on strengthening development partnerships for the SDGs. Specifically, speakers discussed innovative approaches and emerging solutions to enhance the effectiveness of international development cooperation in tackling complex global challenges. 
 
In the second panel, experts discussed future opportunities and pathways for accelerating SDG attainment and their implications on international development cooperation. In particular, the forward-looking exchange focused on how to accelerate the mobilization of resources and most effectively utilize them for greater SDG impact. 
                                               
The insights and key takeaways from this event will contribute to impactful decision-making at both policy and programmatic levels.

[1] https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/