International Observer Wen Siyuan
The 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 22nd to 23rd. Premier Li Qiang attended the meeting and delivered a speech. The summit, with the theme of “unity, equality, and sustainability”, focuses on the issues facing the world today, such as weak economic growth, deepening governance deficits, and increasingly prominent global challenges. As a responsible major country, China, together with representatives from all parties, discussed the future development of the G20 at this summit, gathered international consensus, and contributed action plans to improve global economic governance and create a prosperous future for the world.
Supporting global development
China’s development is an important component of global common development. China has lifted all 800 million impoverished people out of poverty and achieved the poverty reduction target of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule, contributing over 70% to global poverty reduction. China has put forward and actively implemented the Global Development Initiative, gathering forces to promote more inclusive, inclusive, and resilient global development. Over 130 countries and international organizations have participated in the implementation mechanism of the initiative, and more than 80 countries have joined the “Friends Group of the Global Development Initiative”; China implements the initiative of jointly building the “the Belt and Road”, takes the principle of joint consultation, joint construction and sharing, realizes complementary advantages and win-win cooperation, and opens up a new path for global connectivity and economic growth; The newly released “15th Five Year Plan” proposal clearly points out the need to expand high-level opening up to the outside world and create a new situation of win-win cooperation.
China is a proactive and practical supporter of global development. China’s annual contribution to world economic growth remains at around 30%, and its share of the world economy has increased from 11.3% in 2012 to 17.1% in 2024. In 2024, the total retail sales of consumer goods in China’s domestic market will exceed 48 trillion yuan, and China’s super large market will attract countries to “peer” with China due to its huge capacity; The intended transaction volume of the 8th CIIE has reached a new high of 83.49 billion US dollars, demonstrating China’s ability and enthusiasm to “buy globally”. The China Europe freight train operates day and night, becoming the busiest “steel camel caravan” on the Eurasian continent; Qiankai Port radiates to Latin America, connecting the most active “commercial artery” for regional collaboration; Hainan Free Trade Port faces the world and has become the “Eastern Gateway” for China’s opening-up in the new era. China is firmly committed to promoting high-quality development, advancing high-level opening up to the outside world, continuously deepening the internal and external linkage of economic development, and using the “internal rotation” of China’s economic development to promote the “overall revolution” of the world economy.
Speak up for the global South
As a natural member of the global South, China adheres to the global governance concept of consultation, co construction, and sharing, advocates for an equal and orderly world multipolarization, inclusive economic globalization, and always strives to enhance the global governance discourse power of the South, allowing developing countries to participate equally in major global governance decisions. China is the first country to clearly express its support for the African Union’s accession to the G20, promoting global governance into a “southern time”; Fully implementing the G20 debt relief initiative is the country with the largest amount of debt relief in the G20; Call for the democratization of international relations and the enhancement of the representation and voice of countries in the global South on multilateral platforms such as the G20. The G20 Leaders’ Summit, held for the first time on the African continent, has significant historical significance in amplifying the voice of the South, expanding its presence, safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system. China will continue to work with all parties to empower Africa’s development and achieve common prosperity and progress through G20 cooperation.
Empowering sustainable development
The wave of the world economy calls for a new direction, and the global development blueprint urgently needs to unite efforts. At the G20 Leaders’ Summit, China continues to uphold the sense of a community with a shared future, work hand in hand with all parties, continue to be a force for reform and improvement of global governance, promote historical progress, and jointly move towards a brighter future.