Interview: S. African expert hails China's pledge to fund development goals
Xinhua, September 30, 2015 Adjust font size:
A South African expert on Tuesday welcomed the pledge by Chinese President Xi Jinping to establish a 2-billion-U.S.-dollar fund to support developing countries' implementation of the post 2015 goals.
The Chinese president made the pledge while addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York earlier this week.
The pledge "is a positive move by the Chinese government to assist developing countries," said Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Executive Director of the South Institute for Global Dialogue.
In an interview with Xinhua, Zondi said, "There was a lot of commitment and consensus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A lot was done to achieve these MDGs but more could have been done with more funds.
"The pledge to set up such a fund is a positive move as it will help capacitate the least developing countries without resources to do more."
Zondi praised the move which he said is exemplary and shows actual action rather than just empty talks.
"That is a wonderful and an exemplary move by the People's Republic of China. It's a step in the right direction. While others were just talking, China is taking concrete steps to help other developing countries. This is clear indication of seriousness to the post 2015 Goals."
He stated that poor countries require funds to achieve the post 2015 Goals.
Zondi noted that China's commitment to support the Goals is what poor countries need at this stage if they have to achieve the goals.
"What we need now is real money and not recycled money like that being recommitted by the G7. For us to breach the colonial gap between the developed and the developing countries there is a need for a practical assistance. We also need skill and knowledge transfer and capacity to meet the development goals," he noted.
It will become a mere illusion if the least developing countries do not get resources to implement the post 2015 Goals, Zondi added.
Zondi expressed hope that the pledge by the Chinese government will inspire developed countries and emerging economies to also bankroll the implementation of the post 2015 Goals. Enditem