Speech delivered by Mr. Yang Jiechi at the inauguration ceremony of the International Development Cooperation Agency (full text)

Mr. Wang Yi, Mr. Wang Xiaotao, ladies and gentlemen, 

Today, we’re attending a ceremony to unveil the newly-established China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), which marks a milestone in the history of Chinese diplomacy and foreign aid. I’m glad to attend today’s ceremony together with State Councilor Wang Yi, Minister Zhong Shan and the new agency’s Chairman Wang Xiaotao. Here, I’d like to express my heart-felt congratulations on the launch of the CIDCA! 

Establishment of the CIDCA is a major decision made by the Communist Party of China's Central Committee with President Xi Jinping as its core, based on the overall development of the cause of the Party and the country. It is an important part of the reform of Party and State institutions, as well as a major measure to help maintain world peace and promote common development. It will facilitate efforts to enhance strategic planning and overall coordination in foreign aid, push for unified management of foreign aid missions, reform and optimize the ways of unfolding foreign aid, and boost the effects of foreign aid work. The agency's founding will have significant and far-reaching effects in advancing China's overall diplomacy agenda and boosting international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. 

In the past more than 60 years, China, which remains a developing country, has been promoting the spirit of internationalism and upholding the basic principles of equality, mutual respect, pragmatism, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, among others. It has done its best to provide assistance to other developing countries without attaching any political conditions to the aid, and played a positive role in boosting many developing countries’ economic and social development and improving the people’s livelihoods in recipient countries. It has developed a foreign aid model with Chinese characteristics, set an example for “South-South Cooperation”, and won high praise from the international community, especially from people of developing countries. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with President Xi Jinping as the core, historical changes have taken place in the cause of the Party and the country, and socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made a solemn statement in a report delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, saying that “The Communist Party of China strives for both the wellbeing of the Chinese people and human progress. To make new and greater contributions for mankind is our Party’s abiding mission.” He called on “the people of all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.” As to foreign aid, he made it clear that “China will, guided by the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith, work to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries” and that "China will increase assistance to other developing countries, especially the least developed countries, and do its part to reduce the North-South development gap.”

We should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We should firmly maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership, while having full confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should conscientiously unify our thoughts and actions in accordance with the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and agenda, enhance the sense of responsibility and mission, and perform our duties faithfully. In addition to carrying forward the fine traditions of China’s foreign aid and drawing on the international community’s enlightening experiences in this field, we should strengthen strategic planning and overall coordination in foreign aid and boost foreign aid missions’ capacity in serving the country’s strategy for external relations. 

“When the way of virtue and justice prevails, the whole world is one community.” China will stay on the path of peaceful development, and continue to pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. It will continue to play its part as a major and responsible country, and work with the people of all other countries to create a bright future for mankind.

I wish the CIDCA a success in making greater contributions to new advances in the development of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and to the development of a community with a shared future for mankind!

Thank you!