Islamabad: In a virtual address today to the 2nd High-Level Meeting of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing, President Asif Ali Zardari called for greater collaboration among Eastern nations under China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) to drive sustainable development and common prosperity.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, President Zardari highlighted the significant potential of the GDI to shape global futures by fostering shared development. He stressed the need for developing countries to assume leadership roles in the global development process. The meeting, organized by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), saw attendance from representatives of foreign countries, international organizations, foreign companies, and non-governmental organizations.

President Zardari emphasized viewing global challenges like progress, development, and health from an Eastern perspective, noting the substantial population residing in the Eastern hemisphere, particularly in China, Pakistan, and neighboring countries. He expressed enthusiasm for China’s leadership under President Xi Jinping and the GDI’s role in guiding the East and the world into a new era.

The Global Development Initiative aims to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and address global development challenges. In partnership with China, Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance development cooperation in various sectors, including poverty reduction, medicine, education, and infrastructure, to promote the GDI’s objectives of shared prosperity.