Assistance fund, institute have played crucial role for developing countries

China stands ready to work with developing countries to further unleash the potential of South-South cooperation, share development opportunities with them and continue to help them achieve sustainable growth, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made the remark in a congratulatory message on the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund and the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development.

He commended the role the fund and institute have played in promoting South-South cooperation since they were created in 2016, saying that over the past five years, the fund has actively supported developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, tackling humanitarian crises, reducing poverty and pursuing development.

The institute has been dedicated to sharing the governance experiences between China and other developing countries and has helped developing countries nurture high-caliber governance professionals, he added.

Xi expressed hope that the fund and the institute would continue their great contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi announced the founding of the fund and the institute in 2015 during a series of summits commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

The fund works in support of other developing countries' efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and is an innovative tool for Chinese aid aimed at advancing South-South cooperation.

In close collaboration with more than 10 international organizations, the fund has supported over 100 livelihood projects in more than 50 countries, benefiting more than 20 million people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The projects include response to tropical cyclones, the fight against Ebola and COVID-19, promoting maternal and child health and addressing refugee and migrant crises.

The institute has received over 200 students from about 60 countries.

The fund and the institute have become important public goods that China provides for South-South cooperation as well as important international brands for developing countries to promote South-South cooperation and enhance sustainable development, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at an event in Beijing on Thursday in honor of the anniversary.

In South-South cooperation, China always focuses on development, gives top priority to people's livelihoods and adapts to the development strategies and plans of specific countries, Wang said at the event, organized by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Commerce.

China helps when help is urgently needed, he said, and in addition passes on knowledge and expertise. "We never attach political strings, never meddle in other countries' domestic affairs and never do superficial things."

No matter how China develops, it will always be a member of the developing world, always stand for the common interests of developing countries, and always be the most sincere, reliable and long-term cooperation partner for all developing countries, he said.

Wang said that China has so far provided medical supplies to over 160 countries and international organizations and provided vaccines to over 100 countries. He added that China will continue to deepen international cooperation on the response to COVID-19 and help developing countries secure an early victory over the virus.

China will continue to deepen economic and livelihood cooperation to help developing countries recover sooner, and will continue to enhance cooperation on governance to help developing countries further strengthen their capacity for self-development. It will continue to strengthen cooperation with developing countries to promote multilateralism and help them better protect their legitimate rights, he added.

In a congratulatory letter to the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed China's role in promoting South-South cooperation, saying that through the fund and the institute, China has helped developing countries become self-reliant and build capacity.

South-South cooperation offers a unique path to accelerating progress that leaves no one behind, he said, and the UN looks forward to continuing to work closely with the fund and the institute in shared efforts toward achieving sustainable development for all.

Beate Trankmann, UN Development Programme resident representative for China, said she welcomes the country's emphasis on global partnerships and multilateral cooperation, as international development cooperation is critical to accelerating recovery from the pandemic and achieving the sustainable development goals.

"We look forward to many more years of close collaboration. With your support, the UN system stands ready to offer our platforms to further broaden multilateral partnerships for South-South cooperation," she said.