In Mauritania's arid landscape, a Chinese-supported livestock center has transformed local livelihoods since 2017. The Mauritania Livestock Technology Demonstration Center now provides year-round forage for 50,000 cattle and sheep while training hundreds in modern animal husbandry techniques. "This project stabilized my income and taught me sustainable practices," said Amadou Diarra, one of 1,200 beneficiaries.
This initiative exemplifies China's Global Development Initiative (GDI) – a program gaining momentum as Premier Li Qiang announced plans to launch 2,000 similar "small and beautiful" projects across developing nations by 2028. The pledge came during a high-level UN General Assembly side event marking the GDI's third anniversary.
First proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021, the GDI has attracted participation from over 130 countries and 80+ members in its "Group of Friends." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres endorsed the initiative this week as "essential" for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only 35% of targets currently on track globally.
"The GDI creates a practical platform for knowledge-sharing," noted Assem Hanafi, Egypt's former ambassador to China. "Such cooperation is vital when unilateralism threatens development progress."
Premier Li emphasized China's commitment to multilateral solutions, urging international partners to prioritize developing nations' needs. The announcement comes as global economic headwinds and protectionism slow progress toward the UN's 2030 Agenda, particularly in climate action and poverty reduction.
With 47% of SDGs making insufficient progress according to UN data analysts, China's expanded GDI projects aim to bridge implementation gaps through targeted technical cooperation and capacity-building programs.
