China has called for a renewed global commitment to sustainable development, urging countries to strengthen multilateral cooperation, increase development financing and embrace innovation to address widening inequalities and accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the appeal while addressing the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI), held to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting, jointly organised by China and UN agencies, brought together representatives to assess the progress of the initiative and discuss strategies for advancing global development amid mounting economic and geopolitical challenges.

Wang said the Global Development Initiative has evolved into a broad international cooperation platform over the past five years, attracting widespread participation from countries and international organisations.

According to him, more than 130 countries and international organisations have expressed support for the initiative, while nearly 100 countries and regional organisations have entered into cooperation agreements with China under the framework.

He said the initiative has also established a growing network of institutions dedicated to advancing development cooperation. These include the Group of Friends of the GDI, which now has 88 member states, and a UN task force involving more than 20 development agencies working to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Wang highlighted China’s financial contributions to global development, noting that more than US$23 billion has been mobilised through development funds, including the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.

He said the resources have supported more than 1,800 community-based projects focused on improving livelihoods and have provided vocational and professional training opportunities for over 200,000 people.

The Chinese foreign minister cited several flagship programmes under the initiative, including China’s juncao technology for poverty reduction, the Sustainable Development Science Satellite-1 (SDGSAT-1), and the MAZU platform, which provides meteorological data and disaster early-warning services to developing countries.

He said these projects have benefited communities across more than 120 countries.

Despite these achievements, Wang warned that the global development agenda is facing increasing pressure as conflicts, economic instability and the growing development gap between developed and developing countries continue to undermine implementation of the SDGs.

He stressed that restoring development as a central priority of international cooperation is essential to securing long-term global peace and prosperity.

To that end, Wang outlined four areas requiring collective action. He called for stronger international solidarity to preserve peace and stability, increased investment and cooperation to accelerate sustainable development, expanded collaboration in science and technology to narrow digital and artificial intelligence divides, and reforms to global economic governance to better reflect the interests of developing countries.

On technological cooperation, Wang pointed to the recent establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), launched by China alongside 28 other countries, as a platform designed to promote inclusive AI governance and expand access to emerging technologies for developing nations.

He also urged developed countries to fulfil their commitments on development financing and called for closer international coordination as preparations begin for discussions on the post-2030 global development framework.

Turning to China’s domestic economy, Wang said the country’s steady growth demonstrates resilience despite a difficult international environment.

He noted that China’s gross domestic product expanded by 4.7 per cent during the first half of 2026, despite the impact of global energy shortages and disruptions to international industrial and supply chains.

Wang said China would continue to integrate its own development with global progress, deepen partnerships with countries across the Global South and contribute to building a more inclusive and equitable international development system.

He reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to implementing the Global Development Initiative and sharing development opportunities with countries around the world as part of its broader vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Lagos State Government has partnered with a Chinese-led consortium to expand access to potable water across the state through the development of critical water infrastructure projects.

The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and Naston Engineering Nigeria Limited on Thursday, July 9, 2026, marking the commencement of the scoping and definition of key components of the state’s water infrastructure development.

According to a statement published by the Lagos State Government, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen water supply infrastructure and provide sustainable, safe and reliable potable water for its rapidly growing population.

Wahab explained that the one-year MoU establishes a collaborative framework for the development of two strategic project lots that will serve as the foundation for the next phase of water infrastructure expansion across Lagos.

He said the first project lot will focus on the installation of a water transmission pipeline beneath the Lagos Lagoon into the Lekki Concession Area, while the second will define downstream distribution activities, including metering and last-mile water connections within the concession area.

According to the commissioner, the engagement is expected to produce a comprehensive technical report and implementation framework that will guide the execution of the projects and facilitate the preparation of a concession agreement between the Lagos State Government and the consortium.

He noted that the exercise would also provide the technical and commercial framework required to move the projects into the implementation phase.

Speaking on behalf of Naston Engineering Nigeria Limited, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Kole Funsho, expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government for its confidence in the consortium, describing the MoU as the beginning of a process that would culminate in the delivery of a robust and bankable water infrastructure project.

Funsho said the agreement clearly outlines the scope of the proposed concession and reaffirmed the consortium’s commitment to delivering the required technical studies within the stipulated timeframe, or even ahead of schedule.

He disclosed that the consortium would prepare detailed engineering designs, project cost estimates and tariff structures needed to support the final concession agreement with the state government.

According to him, successful execution of the assignment will require close collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and other relevant government agencies to obtain critical drainage and infrastructure data necessary to properly align the proposed transmission pipelines without disrupting existing roads, drainage systems and other public infrastructure.

Funsho expressed optimism that the partnership would pave the way for the successful implementation of the projects, significantly improving potable water supply and strengthening water infrastructure for residents across Lagos State.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday described the 105-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the “most magnificent epic” of the Chinese nation, urging Party members to remain steadfast in their convictions and press ahead with efforts to build China into a modern socialist country on schedule.

Speaking at a gathering commemorating the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Xi, who also serves as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on Party members to work tirelessly to fulfill the Party’s missions in the new era and on the new journey.

Founded in 1921 at a time when China faced foreign aggression, national weakness, and widespread poverty, the CPC has grown from just over 50 members into the world’s largest governing political party, with nearly 101.29 million members and more than 5.43 million primary-level Party organizations, according to the latest Party census.

Xi emphasized that the Party must remain committed to its basic theory, basic line, and fundamental policies while pursuing the goal of fully realizing socialist modernization by the middle of the century.

“Time stops for no one, and neither does history,” Xi said, urging Party members to “remain undaunted by passing clouds and stay on course through wind and waves.”

He stressed that the Party’s strength lies in its close ties with the people and called for renewed determination and enterprise in delivering on development goals.

“The whole Party must rely closely on the people to create new historical feats,” Xi said, encouraging members to “further reinvigorate the enterprising spirit for getting things done.”

Acknowledging the increasingly complex domestic and international environment, Xi warned that China must remain vigilant against growing risks and uncertainties.

“China’s development is now in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and where uncertain and unpredictable factors are on the rise. We must always be prepared to withstand major tests of high winds and raging waves, and even violent storms,” he said.

On the global stage, Xi noted that profound changes unseen in a century are accelerating, with the world entering a new period of turbulence and transformation. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity through greater international cooperation.

Xi also underscored the importance of advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance and sustaining the fight against corruption, describing it as a “tough, protracted and all-out battle.”

“It is imperative that all of us in the Party never forget our original aspiration and founding mission, that we always stay modest, prudent, and hard-working, and that we have the courage and ability to carry on our fight,” he said.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Xi presented the July 1 Medal, the Communist Party of China’s highest honor, to outstanding Party members in recognition of their exemplary contributions to the Party and the nation.

The event marked a significant milestone in the CPC’s history as it reaffirmed its commitment to national rejuvenation, modernization, and continued leadership in guiding China’s development amid evolving global challenges.