SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals Closing Ceremony

Distinguished Mr. Jean Todt,

Dear colleagues and friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank UN Global Compact for the opportunity to address the year-end ceremony of the SDG Innovation Accelerator Programme in China.

First, let me extend a warm congratulations to the businesses that have successfully completed the Programme in 2023. Your unwavering dedication and outstanding accomplishments indicate the importance of innovation for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Innovation is a key catalyst for economic development and social progress and lies at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. For example, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) all call for advancing innovative development and utilizing innovation.

As a global leader in business innovation and one of the countries with the most science and technology clusters, China continues to demonstrate its commitment to and development of innovation. It has implemented financial and tax policies that encourage technological innovation for businesses, as well as government procurement policies that promote innovation. As a result, China is nearing the top 10 in the Global Innovation Index 2023, produced by the World Intellectual Property Organization, ranking 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region, and 1st among upper-middle-income economies.

Despite this progress, there are still many challenges and uncertainties remaining. While innovation has led to important progress in many sectors, including education, business operations, energy consumption, and information and communication; there is a pressing need for innovation to become more inclusive, not only incorporating the perspectives and needs of more diverse groups, in particular disadvantaged groups, but also involving them more directly in the development of innovative solutions.

The private sector, with its diverse expertise, extensive networks, and social and environmental impacts, is a key driving force in advancing the SDGs through innovative solutions. The involvement of young professionals within businesses is crucial in advancing innovative development, as youth are the sources of many new and innovative ideas and hold immense potential to tackle and address sustainability challenges and lead transformation.

As the positive changes delivered by achieving the SDGs will have the largest impact on future generations, the creativity, enthusiasm, and active participation of youth are imperative to realize the 2030 Agenda.

Therefore, I call on each and every one of you to invest in new mindsets to achieve corporate sustainability in not only your own enterprise, but also within the world you are operating. The United Nations in China will continue to advocate for SDG innovation and is committed to further strengthening collaborations with the private sector.

The UN Global Compact, as the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, is dedicated to advancing sustainable development goals together with businesses. The 2023 SDGI Programme in China has demonstrated how empowering young professionals to create innovative solutions can deliver results not only for their companies, but also contribute to broader sustainability goals.

Now, as we embark on a new chapter, let us collectively aspire to ensure the 2024 cohort achieves even more impactful and transformative results.

Thank you.