Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On the occasion of the high-level meeting of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), held on September 23 in New York alongside the 80th Session of the United
Nations General Assembly, under the theme: ‘’Staying faithful to our initial aspirations. United to build a better future for global development,’’ His Excellency Ambassador Édouard BIZIMANA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, presented the position of the Republic of Burundi on global development issues.
In his address, His Excellency Ambassador Edouard BIZIMANA noted that Burundi is pleased to participate in this important meeting and expresses its deep gratitude
to the People’s Republic of China for its leadership, as well as to His Excellency Mr. Li Qiang for his ongoing commitment to inclusive development. Minister Edouard BIZIMANA emphasized that over the past four years, the GDI has established itself as an essential framework for advancing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, particularly for Southern countries. Burundi reiterates its commitment today to its common aspirations for a fairer, more united, and more sustainable future.
According to Minister Edouard BIZIMANA, to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, it is crucial to strengthen support for national development strategies.
For Burundi, he stated that this involves prioritizing investments in agriculture, rural infrastructure, education, and health. Better-aligned support with national priorities will lead to concrete and sustainable results. Revitalizing development in the Global South requires a renewed commitment to solidarity and equitable partnerships. Countries must strengthen South-South cooperation and advocate for reform of international financial institutions to ensure equitable access to development financing and debt relief mechanisms. Burundi remains firmly committed to regional integration, peacebuilding, and resilience.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), which represents a major opportunity to accelerate development, Minister Edouard BIZIMANA emphasized the importance of ensuring access to technologies and capacity building. AI can transform agricultural systems, improve access to health care, and expand education, provided that the digital divide is bridged.
His Excellency Ambassador Edouard BIZIMANA concluded his speech by calling on participants for increased international cooperation on governance, training, and technology transfer in the field of artificial intelligence, so that its benefits can be shared by all.