The Ninth Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from Aug 29 to 31, 2024. The theme of this year's meeting was "Investing in a Sustainable Future". 

Members of the Board of Governors and representatives of the NDB member states and NDB President Dilma Rousseff attended the meeting. Lan Fo'an, China's Minister of Finance and NDB Governor for China, delivered a video address at the opening ceremony. 

Lan spoke highly of the significant achievements the NDB has made over the nine years since its establishment. He emphasized that China will continue to provide strong support and high-quality services for the organization's development, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's important instructions on supporting greater development of the NDB. Lan also put forward four suggestions on the future development of the NDB. 

First, adhering to the NDB's mission and supporting the sustainable development of its member states through innovation. 

Second, continuing expanding membership to enhance the NDB's strength and governance. 

Third, upholding multilateralism to promote improvements in international economic governance. 

Fourth, expanding partnerships and mobilizing more resources to promote common development. 

In his address, Lan noted that since the beginning of this year, China's economy has shown a trend of structural optimization with improving quality and efficiency, maintaining an important engine and stabilizing force for global economic growth. 

Noting that the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in July, made systematic plans for the blueprint of China's future reforms, Lan said that China will more actively integrate into the international economy, share more dividends from its reform and opening-up with the world, and promote the realization of a modern world characterized by peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity. 

Liao Min, China's Vice Minister of Finance and NDB Alternate Governor for China, led a delegation to Cape Town to participate in the series of activities at the 9th NDB Annual Meeting, including the opening ceremony, the closed-door meeting and the flagship seminar of the Board of Governors. 

During his stay, Liao also held bilateral meetings and exchanges with Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance of South Africa; Mohamed Bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs of the Unite Arab Emirates; Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation of Egypt; Tatiana Rosito and Guilherme Mello, Vice Ministers of Finance of Brazil, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; and NDB President Dilma Rousseff.