As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the global fight against poverty and the pursuit of common development remain central. China, a founding UN member, stands out for its consistent and impactful contributions. Beijing-based political commentator Yi Fan describes China as a "genuine propeller" of global poverty reduction and shared development.
China has not only championed initiatives like the Millennium Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development but has also lifted 800 million of its own citizens out of poverty, meeting UN targets ahead of schedule. Beyond its borders, Beijing actively supports developing countries, guided by the philosophy, "The world cannot truly be a better place until all are better off." Yi Fan emphasizes this vision as crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Decades-Long Commitment to Helping Others
China's dedication to global development began in 1950, even as it faced significant economic challenges. A powerful example is the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) project in the 1970s. Despite its own struggles, China provided nearly one million tons of raw materials, RMB988 million yuan in zero-interest loans, and dispatched around 50,000 experts and technicians to assist its African partners.
This principle of "helping others to the best of its ability and leaving no one behind" has guided China's actions for decades. As China's economy grew, so did its commitment to common development, with aid reaching RMB256 billion yuan from 1950 to 2009 and RMB270 billion yuan between 2013 and 2018. Yi Fan highlights this enduring philosophy.
Empowering Self-Reliance: Teaching How to "Fish"
Learning from its own fight against extreme poverty, China understands that sustained growth requires internal drivers. Its approach goes beyond direct assistance, focusing on empowering development partners through technology promotion, vital infrastructure, and talent cultivation.
Since 1979, over 1,100 Chinese agricultural experts have shared hybrid rice breeding technology with more than 40 countries, significantly boosting local yields and food security. In Africa, China has supported the construction of over 6,000 kilometers of railway, 6,000 kilometers of highway, and over 80 large power facilities.
Further reinforcing this, the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, established under President Xi Jinping, has trained over 400 students from some 70 developing countries. These graduates return home well-equipped to drive local development, a testament to China's focus on empowering sustainable growth, as Yi Fan points out.
A Partner of Equality and Mutual Benefit
China's foreign assistance framework is rooted in the "eight principles" proposed by the late Premier Zhou Enlai in the 1960s, emphasizing no political conditions, equality, and mutual benefit. Unlike some Western donors, China consistently avoids attaching political strings or imposing its own development model, upholding the sovereignty and independence of all nations.
Its aid reflects a genuine desire for shared progress. Nearly half of its recent RMB270 billion yuan in development aid was provided as unconditional grants, with the remainder as zero-interest or concessional loans. This ensures support genuinely helps partners overcome poverty and achieve sustainable growth without hidden agendas. Yi Fan emphasizes that this approach makes China a "true brother treating all as equals."
As the world pursues a more equitable future, China's enduring example, highlighted by Beijing-based political commentator Yi Fan, underscores the critical importance of cooperation, equality, and good faith over zero-sum thinking, urging all nations to contribute collectively to shared prosperity.