GDI welcomed by global community

China has played a major role in Africa's transformational agenda since 2000, with the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and subsequently the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Munene said.

The GDI has also been widely recognized by other international communities.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries acknowledged the GDI in the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations.

In the Joint Statement of China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Pacific Island countries expressed readiness to support and join the GDI to ensure alignment with the Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and central Asian countries have expressed their support for the GDI in the Declaration of the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and the Joint Statement between Leaders of China and the Five Central Asian Countries on the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties.

As an open and inclusive partnership, the GDI also welcomed the participation of developed countries in GDI projects, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang said at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the GDI.

"China stands ready to strengthen strategic alignment with all members of the Group of Friends of the GDI and all other parties, focus on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, work together with the UN development system, focus on concrete projects … continuously enrich and improve the GDI project pool, and carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation in the eight GDI priority areas," Wang said.