China launches Institute of Global Development

HANGZHOU -- Aimed at advancing international development cooperation, the Institute of Global Development (IGD) was inaugurated on Sunday at Zhejiang University in East China.

According to its organizers, IGD is designed to further translate the Global Development Initiative into practice as well as to promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the post-2030 planning.

Hosted by Zhejiang University, IGD operates as an entity under the policy guidance of China's Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education, and the Zhejiang Provincial Government.

It will recruit mid to senior-level government officials and business leaders from around the world for training and academic programs.

"We will rely on Zhejiang University's applied economics and public administration disciplines to offer degree programs and provide long-term, strategic talent support for global sustainable development," said Huang Xianhai, dean of IGD.

The school has already begun global recruitment for its degree programs, with the first cohort of doctoral students expected to enroll in September 2026.

The idea of establishing the institute was put forward by China at the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where China proposed creating a dedicated institution to strengthen cooperation among countries.

The launch ceremony also highlighted the institute's ambition to foster global partnerships. At the launch ceremony, Zhejiang University signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Population Fund to conduct joint research on issues including population and development and to establish a collaborative global research platform.

More international organizations have also expressed interest in working with the new institute. Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China, said UNICEF hopes to explore cooperation with IGD to advance sustainable development outcomes for children.

"Platforms such as the Institute of Global Development can help translate development experience into shared knowledge, South-South Cooperation, and practical solutions for countries seeking to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals," she said.