China-proposed development initiative key to solving many global challenges: expert

The China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI) not only supports the country's own development but also provides a solution to many global development challenges, according to Qi Ye, Dean of Society Hub at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

The GDI, which aims to advance the broadest common interests of all humanity, was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the UN General Assembly in 2021, laying out six core principles for cooperation between nations that lead to shared development.

During a talk program broadcast by the China Media Group, Qi hailed China's success in alleviating poverty, crediting it to the country's commitment to prioritizing development.

"China has over the last 30 to 40 years basically alleviated one billion people out of poverty, and that is a huge share in terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. And some other countries are probably doing not so well, and China, with this Global Development Initiative, putting development first as the leading goal, I think that's very, very important because when we look at the whole world right now, we have many, many challenges, but we need a solution. We do need development, the economic development, political development, cultural, social development," he said.

As this year marks the United Nations' 80th anniversary, Qi also highlighted the organization's vital role in achieving global goals, particularly through a focus on education and related fields.

"The multilateral institutions, including the development banks, including these international organizations, these multilateral organizations, institutions are really, really key for the common global goal to fix the common global challenges. And this is so obvious. And under the leadership of the United Nations and many of these organizations, it's important really the education. We must have a common shared understanding for a common future, this empowerment of the people, especially the people in need, and investment and also innovation. We need to put in a lot of resources and knowledge and human resources into that to have this education, this empowerment, innovation and investment," he said.

China-proposed development initiative key to solving many global challenges: expert

The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that it is pausing immigrant visa processing from 75 countries.

The measure will apply to "countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people," the department said on X.

The pause impacts countries including Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea, "whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival," said the State Department.

Earlier on Wednesday, the department announced in a memo that it would suspend visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand and Yemen, according to a Fox News report.

The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of visa processing, the report said. The move came after the White House announced on Tuesday that it is ending temporary protected status for Somali immigrants amid fraud allegations in Minnesota.

On Monday, the State Department announced on social media that it had revoked over 100,000 visas since U.S. President Donald Trump took office nearly a year ago.

In November 2025, Trump announced his intention to permanently suspend immigration from what he described as "Third World countries", following the death of a National Guard member after being shot near the White House by an Afghan national.

U.S. freezes immigrant visa processing from 75 countries