China keeps with the trend of history and follows right path in the world. On 24 June 2022, President Xi Jinping chaired the High-level Dialogue on Global Development under the theme of “Foster a Global Development Partnership for the New Era to Jointly Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, Ethiopia and ten-plus other developing countries joined five BRICS members at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development.

The world today is undergoing profound and broad changes of the times. But the theme of peace and development has not changed, the pursuit of the better life by people of all countries has not changed, and the historical mission of the international community to work together has not changed. The High-level Dialogue on Global Development reached  consensus on many important issues about global security and development and achieved positive results.

First, “BRICS+” conforms to the trend of the times and contributes to deepening international cooperation.

The BRICS countries account for 26 percent of the global area, 42 percent of the global population, and 25 percent of the global total economic output, representing the historical trend of the collective rise of large developing countries. The meaning of BRICS cooperation is not to be alone, but shared, which is already beyond the scope of the five countries. Since its founding, BRICS has been closely linked to the destiny of emerging markets and developing countries.

Since the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, BRICS leaders held dialogues with leaders of African, South American, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Eurasian Economic Union, and member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Based on strengthening dialogue with regional and neighboring countries, during the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China first proposed the “BRICS+” cooperation model, and invited representative emerging markets and developing countries from around the world to attend the dialogue. President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of the “BRICS+”: “We should expand the scope of radiation and benefits of BRICS cooperation, promote the ‘”BRICS+”‘ cooperation model, build an open and diverse network of development partners, and allow more emerging markets and developing countries to participate in the cause of unity, cooperation, and mutual benefit.” BRICS cooperation has opened up a new realm and gives more countries a free ride on development. BRICS countries and developing countries have a wide range of interest convergence points in the fields of trade and investment, currency and finance, connectivity, sustainable development, innovation, and industrial cooperation. Strengthening the connection between macro- policies and development strategies will help play their comparative advantages in resources, technology, and human resources and promote the recovery and development of the global economy. BRICS cooperation has gone through 16 years. From the establishment of the New Development Bank and emergency reserve to the “BRICS+” cooperation model, and then to the establishment of the new industrial revolution partnership, BRICS cooperation is entering a high-quality development stage.

Second, “BRICS+” promotes win-win cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries.

Anyone who attempts to turn back the wheel of history and block others’ way will only have his own path blocked. We should stay committed to openness and inclusiveness, eliminate all barriers to the development of productivity, and steer globalization in the right direction. We should uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, remove barriers to trade, investment and technology, and keep the global economy open. We should promote extensive consultation and joint contribution to deliver shared benefits, enhance global economic governance, and increase the representation and say of emerging markets and developing countries. This will ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights, follow the rules as equals, and share equal opportunities. In response to the challenges facing the global economic recovery, President Xi Jinping pointed out that tiding over difficulties together and pursuing solidarity and cooperation is the only way for us to forestall an economic crisis. Each party should come together with a united purpose and strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination to prevent the slowdown and even halt of the global recovery.

Third, “BRICS+” indicates that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) has taken root.

President Xi Jinping put forward the GDI in 2021, which aims to promote the international community to form a joint force, focus on development, and contribute China’s solutions and wisdom to solving development problems and realizing the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development on schedule. President Xi Jinping announced China’s important measures to implement the GDI at this High-level Dialogue on Global Development, including setting up the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, enhancing support for the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, issuing a Global Development Report and establishing a Global Development Promotion Center and a Global Knowledge Network for Development, to play China’s part in mobilizing global resources for development and expediting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A list of deliverables composed of 32 measures was also released at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, covering eight areas of poverty reduction, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and digital-era connectivity, including setting up a Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development, launching a Food Production Enhancement Action, establishing an International Vaccines Research, Development and Innovation Alliance, promoting to establish the Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership, establishing the Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management, holding a Global Development Forum and providing 100,000 training opportunities for other developing countries, among others. China looks forward to working with the international community to jointly implement the outcomes of the Dialogue and open up the project pool for the participation of all parties, so as to inject strong impetus into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“BRICS+” is closely linked to the fate of emerging markets and developing countries. Ethiopia, as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, has a leading role to play in promoting development and peace in East Africa. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2017, China-Ethiopia relations have been at the forefront of China-Africa relations in three aspects: political mutual trust, joint construction of the “the Belt and Road” and international affairs cooperation. China-Ethiopia cooperation has become a model of South-South cooperation and China Africa cooperation. With the participation of Ethiopia and other developing countries, “BRICS+” cooperation will become a powerful engine for global development. Under the joint cultivation of the “BRICS+” and the GDI, the tree of China-Ethiopia friendship and cooperation is bound to be more prosperous and vibrant.