In Mauritania’s desert landscape, a China-backed livestock center is transforming lives 🐑. Since 2017, the Mauritania Livestock Technology Demonstration Center has provided sustainable forage crops and trained local herders like Amadou Diarra, who says: "My income is more stable, and I’ve learned modern farming techniques." This project is part of China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) – a game-changer for sustainable growth.
At the UN General Assembly this week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced plans to launch 2,000 more 'small and beautiful' projects globally by 2029 🌍. These grassroots initiatives focus on agriculture, healthcare, and education, aligning with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
First proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2021, the GDI now has over 130 countries and 80+ UN members in its "Group of Friends." UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised it as a "key tool" to accelerate SDG progress, especially with only 35% of current goals on track 📉.
"The GDI creates a bridge for sharing solutions," said Egypt’s former ambassador Assem Hanafi. As protectionism threatens global cooperation, China vows to champion multilateralism and prioritize developing nations’ needs 🤝. With 5 years left to meet SDG targets, these bite-sized projects could deliver big impact – one green pasture at a time.
