China International Import Expo 2021

Excellencies, 

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am pleased to address you at the China International Import Expo The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Smart Mobility Forum. First, I wish to thank UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Network, China International Import Expo Bureau and China News Network for organizing this forum.

The world is in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) powered by digital technologies that are transforming society, economies and the environment. Smart mobility, as one of the major products of the 4IR, has become the focal point in the upgrading of global manufacturing production and enables seamless integration of transport modes, including on-demand and autonomous options and reshapes the mobility ecosystem.

More than ever, international organizations like the United Nations need to convene, connect and catalyze creatively the ideas, networks, and capabilities of governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector for effective global solutions. The UN is promoting technological innovation, accelerating the upgrading of traditional industries, and boosting the green economy by fostering new growth areas and drivers through research, development and international cooperation, especially in remote areas and addressing the most vulnerable groups.

Through our focus on people and prosperity, planet, and partnerships, the UN system in China is wholly committed to assisting China’s development priorities and ready to contribute to the next phase of the country’s high-quality development agenda with a view to leaving no one behind.

I am therefore pleased to see that smart mobility and smart cities is an element of UNIDO’s country program in China under the leadership of UNIDO Regional Office. This element is covered and supported by ITPO Beijing, headed by Mr. Yabin WU who has contributed a lot and continues to work tirelessly to steer this work in China. UNIDO has gathered partners from multiple stakeholders in the transportation industry and launched various programmes to facilitate collective actions on the inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) of smart mobility.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year is significant as it is the 50th year of China's return to its lawful seat in the UN, with the added significance that in the next nine years, the UN has to speed up progress towards the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As the UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres’ representative and his Resident Coordinator in China, I feel privileged to serve in a country that values multilateralism and fully supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

China's ambition to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 brings both challenges and opportunities. But through the convergence of big data, technology and innovation, it is not impossible to achieve the goals. 

President Xi Jinping has said, "We need to keep up with the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, jointly seize opportunities created by digital, networked and smart development, explore new technologies and new forms and models of business, foster new growth drivers and explore new development pathways, and build the digital Silk Road and the Silk Road of innovation.”

I am confident that this forum can facilitate deeper communication and coordination, which will make a unique contribution to the digital intelligence, decarbonization and cross-sector collaboration of mobility industries, as well as the realization of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

In closing, I once again thank the organizers for this timely event and look forward to the outcomes of the discussions. I wish the forum a great success.

Thank you!