This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. The past 80 years have been a period in which peoples of all nations have made relentless efforts and faced challenges together, it has also been a time of rise and growth for the Global South. From the Millennium Development Goals to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China has consistently supported global development, steadfastly practiced true multilateralism, and prioritized South-South cooperation.

Taking the cooperation between China and Pakistan as an example, as essential members of the Global South, the cooperation between China and Pakistan focuses on livelihood issues such as infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, healthcare, climate change, and education. We have enhanced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to become a key platform to achieve mutual development, creating a model of South-South cooperation through consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits.

First, our cooperation has significantly strengthened the foundation for Pakistan’s development. In 2015, H.E. President Xi Jinping made a historic visit to Pakistan and reached the critical consensus with Pakistani leaders to establish a ‘1+4’ cooperation layout, with the CPEC at the center and Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, energy and industrial cooperation being the four key areas, which paves the way for accelerating the development of the CPEC. After 12 years of construction, the CPEC has evolved into the earliest, most extensive, and most beneficial all-factor cooperation project under the Belt and Road Initiative. It has brought US$25.4 billion in direct investment to Pakistan, created 236,000 jobs, built 510 kilometers of highways, added over 8,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and expanded 886 kilometers of core power transmission networks. These accomplishments have strongly promoted Pakistan’s economic and social development and enhanced its capacity for independent growth. We will synergize development strategies with Pakistan and jointly build an upgraded CPEC to help Pakistan further solidify its development foundation and unlock its growth potential.

Second, our cooperation has effectively improved the wellbeing of the Pakistani people. H.E. President Xi Jinping has emphasized that China’s policy towards Pakistan is always aimed at benefiting all the people of Pakistan, and he pointed out that the planning and layout of CPEC should consider all the regions of Pakistan and ensure that the development benefits all its people. 

CPEC has always focused on enhancing the livelihood of the Pakistani people, continuously bringing visible and tangible changes and benefits. Take the flagship project, Gwadar Port, as an example. The Pak-China Friendship Hospital, funded by China, has undergone a major upgrade, significantly improving the level of medical modernization, and the total number of patients who have been treated has exceeded 300,000. The China-aided seawater desalination plant has officially started operations, producing 1,000 tons of fresh water daily, effectively alleviating the local water shortage. The vocational and technical training institute built by China has been handed over and can provide training for 3,000 people annually. Additionally, the Faqeer School has gradually expanded from a primary school to a girls’ high school, providing renowned quality educational resources in the region. 

Since last year, China has donated 70,000 health kits to Balochistan, covering 23 districts and benefiting 766 schools. Meanwhile, we have actively collaborated with UN agencies such as the UNDP and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to implement a series of tri-party cooperation projects in Pakistan including COVID-19 prevention, monitoring and forecast of meteorological disasters, distributing food and goods after catastrophe, and offering obstetrics and neonatal care services, among others, to help improve the living conditions of the Pakistani people. We will continue to implement more ‘small and beautiful’ livelihood projects, work with Pakistan to jointly build a ‘Livelihood Corridor,’ and continually enhance the sense of wellbeing of the Pakistani people.

Third, our cooperation has continuously supported Pakistan’s green development. In recent years, Pakistan has been severely impacted by climate change, with floods, droughts, and other natural disasters, causing significant damage to social development and the livelihoods of the people. Severe smog has also posed a considerable threat to public health. As an ironclad friend, China pays close attention to Pakistan’s challenges and has continuously assisted within its capacity. CPEC has always adhered to the concept of green development. Several energy projects, including the Karot Hydropower Station, the Dawood Wind Power Project, the Bahawalpur Solar Power Plant, the K2 and K3 Nuclear Power Station using China's Hualong One nuclear reactor, and the Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, have enriched Pakistan’s energy structure. These projects not only help Pakistan meet its energy needs but also prioritize environmental protection and green development. In 2023, China and Pakistan signed an MoU on South-South Cooperation for Climate Change, through which China provided aid in the form of household solar power systems, smart meteorological ground observation stations, and other equipment, and also offered capacity-building training to help Pakistan improve its ability to address climate change. Last year, three environmental protection experts from China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Pakistani government. They provided a series of targeted policy suggestions on combating smog pollution and improving air quality. We will continue to work together with Pakistan to build a ‘Green Corridor’ and assist Pakistan in charting a path towards sustainable, green, and low-carbon development.

Looking to the future, China is willing to share the opportunities of Chinese modernization with other developing countries, including Pakistan, and jointly build a community of a shared destiny for the ‘Global South’ and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.