“China–US Plus” Triangular Development Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The “China–US Plus” model of development cooperation refers to the triangular pattern between China, the largest South–South Cooperation partner, the United States, the largest traditional donor, and recipient nations in the developing world. Since the beginning of the 21st century, China and the United States have strengthened policy coordination on international development, and carried out several pilot projects including the “China–US Plus Afghanistan” triangular cooperation on human resources, “China–US Plus Timor-Leste” triangular cooperation on agriculture and the “China–US Plus Africa” triangular cooperation on public health which have already yielded early harvests. However since 2018, the “China–US Plus” cooperation has encountered challenges from both the setbacks in the field of international development and the United States’ increasingly tougher policies toward China. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has severely undermined global development achievements, it is of great significance for China and the United States to resume and strengthen triangular development cooperation. By urging Washington to restart the bilateral dialogue on development cooperation, encouraging Chinese and US civil society organizations to initiate non-traditional “China–US Plus” cooperation and strengthening coordination and connection with aid recipients, Beijing can play a constructive role to put the “China–US Plus” cooperation back on track as early as possible.