Global Development Report 2024 offers sustainable development paths for Global South countries

International guests at the release ceremony for the Global Development Report 2024 in Beijing underscored the indispensable role of multilateralism and cooperation in creating a fairer and more inclusive world.

The report released by China's Center for International Knowledge on Development on Friday has offered solutions for sustainable development pathways, particularly for Global South countries.

It is part of China's far-reaching efforts to implement the Global Development Initiative, with three issues published so far.

Scholars from around the world who participated in compiling the report said that it comprehensively presents the most urgent challenges facing global development today and provides solutions for building a global development community and accelerating the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The report tackles pressing and controversial issues head-on and analyzes the current situation of various countries, especially developing countries, in areas such as climate change, digital technology, and food security. It also emphasizes the main pathways for cooperation in addressing challenges and achieving development.

"What is needed is greater global cooperation to achieve inclusive, fair, ecologically sustainable and people-centered development to benefit all the eight billion people on planet Earth. This approach, friends, is in stark contrast to the selfish mindset of the U.S.-led Western powers that are desperately trying to perpetuate today's unequal and unfair world order," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's advisor, and founder and chairman of the Forum for a New South Asia.

The report points out that unilateralism and protectionism are spreading in today's world, geopolitical tensions are rising, and local conflicts and turmoil are frequent. It underscores that these factors are significantly impacting the global development process.

Several attendees at the ceremony stated that China's Global Development Initiative closely aligns with the central task of implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, helping countries share experiences.

According to speakers at the event, developed countries must also fulfill their commitments, support the capacity-building of developing countries, and bridge the development gap.

"In this time, some countries were actually trying to weaken the multilateral system or are dismissing international organizations including UN agencies. All countries, in particular developing countries, need a strong multilateral system, and I appreciate very much the effort China is doing in that direction," said Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Center.

As an important product under the framework of China's Global Development Initiative, the report illustrates the country's contribution to promoting sustainable development across the world.

"For most developing countries, especially those with a certain population size and economic scale, achieving green and low-carbon industrialization is key to realizing development. As the largest developing country, China has made significant progress in industrialization and green, low-carbon transformation. This success itself provides confidence for the development of countries in the Global South," said Wang Jinzhao, Executive Vice President of the Center for International Knowledge on Development.

Global Development Report 2024 offers sustainable development paths for Global South countries

As Chinese-made new energy vehicles continue to power ahead and take the world by storm, the answer to what makes the country's smart manufacturing power strong enough to lead global auto production can be found in the electric vehicle (EV) HyperFactory of Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi.

The tech giant, better known for its smartphones and home appliance products, marked its bold foray into the auto market in 2021, when it set up a state-of-the-art factory in the Being Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beiing E-Town -- a key innovation hub for China's autonomous driving industry.

Despite the enormous scale of this facility, there are few workers in sight, with robotic arms instead moving with precision and speed, seamlessly assembling vehicle body components.

Every single Xiaomi SU7 electric car is born in this factory, where production lines run day and night, with a new car rolling off the line every 76 seconds. More than 700 robots work in sync across these highly automated production lines. Key processes are 100 percent automated -- making this facility a true example of next-generation manufacturing.

Song Jiaqiang, a production technology director at the Xiaomi EV HyperFactory, said the plant has set a benchmark in China's push for new quality productive forces -- an initiative aiming to promote high-tech development through innovation -- thanks to its exceptional application of artificial intelligence and automated processes.

"The first thing is the incredible level of automation and intelligence in this factory. Key processes are 100 percent automated. On top of that, we've introduced an industry-first AI (artificial intelligence) quality inspection system, which boasts an accuracy rate of 99.9 percent," he said.

Inside the factory, robots operate 24-hours a day, and they don't even need human staff to maintain their battery life -- when power runs low, they autonomously locate charging stations and recharge themselves.

Beyond core process automation, even material handling is finished by autonomous mobile robots, keeping the production lines running around the clock without interruption.

"The factory is packed with over 700 industrial robots. Right here in the body shop, we're looking at a 91 percent overall automation rate," said Song.

This advanced level of automation has been the key to Xiaomi's success, speeding up operational efficiency, ensuring greater build accuracy and ultimately delivering higher quality products, as Song explains.

"Take the rear door assembly, for example. Robots handle everything, from automatically picking up the part and inserting bolts, to placing it onto the body. They then inspect both the body and the component, while simultaneously tightening and adjusting the bolts to achieve a perfect fit with minimal gaps. It's a fully automated, intelligent process that drastically reduces, or even eliminates the need for human involvement," he said.

China's world-leading prowess in the smart manufacturing looks set to continue as the Xiaomi factory aims to further boost speed and AI capabilities, while helping upgrade the performance of domestically-made equipment.

Xiaomi's EV HyperFactory offers glimpse into future of smart manufacturing