The second high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing from July 11 to 13. EasyTransfer’s Co-Founder & President Tony Gao was invited to speak at one of the parallel forum hosted by the United Nations in China on July 12, addressing global leaders on education and sustainable development.
The conference was on a larger scale to the first session, which was held last year, with wider representation and more deliverables. In response to the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the conference brought together representatives from over 160 countries, international organizations, and institutions. Its central aim was to foster global consensus and achieve new breakthroughs in collaborative efforts supporting the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held a group meeting with international participants. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech at the event.
The attendees agreed that genuine multilateralism must be upheld in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They concurred that the Global Development Initiative is a joint development initiative between the Global South and the Global North, and that the modernization of the Global South is an important driver for achieving global sustainable development. The two sides called for greater efforts to promote North-South dialogue, explore new types of partnerships and expand the potential for cooperation, focusing on areas such as energy, the digital economy, responding to climate change and youth development.
Tony participated in the Parallel Forum: Dialogue on Innovative Approaches to Accelerating Sustainable Development. During his presentation, he offered a unique perspective on how education can be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlighting the transformative power of education, Tony emphasized its vital role in driving sustainable development across various societal aspects. He advocated for fostering inclusive and equitable education systems that empower individuals to become active participants in shaping a more sustainable future.
The parallel forum featured a diverse panel of distinguished experts representing various fields. These included H.E. Mr. Elia George Kaiyamo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Namibia to China; Ms. Sarah Hendriks, Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division, UN Women; Mr. Rodrigo Salvado, Director General, Operational Partnership Department, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and H.E. Ms. Amb. Lynette Mwende Ndile, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Kenya. Their insightful discussions focused on concrete actions to advance the 2030 Agenda, encompassing areas like green finance, gender equality, and private sector engagement. Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, also delivered a keynote address emphasizing the critical role of international collaboration in achieving these ambitious goals.
EasyTransfer firmly believes that education plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable development. We are dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders worldwide to translate this vision into reality. We are honoured to have participated in this high-level dialogue organized by the United Nations, and we look forward to leveraging our industry-leading position to share valuable insights and trends with an even broader range of stakeholders in the future.
