Delivering as One, a UN in China conversation presented by Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee: Episode 19 with Meng Liu, Head of UN Global Compact China Office

In this episode of the UN in China podcast, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee sits down with Ms. Meng Liu, Head of the UN Global Compact China Office.

Ms. Liu, a Chinese national, grew up with a childhood dream to work for the United Nations. As part of the generation that emerged in the 21st century with a global outlook and experiences, Ms. Liu emphasized that she and her generation have benefitted from the positive effects of the reform and opening up policy of China.

Inspired by her reading during elementary school of a young student’s experience in the UN system, her interest in international affairs had already been sparked prior to her studies at the University of San Francisco in the United States. Following her gaining a Master’s degree in International and Development Economics, she first joined the UN as an intern back in 2007 for the Office of the High Representative for the Least Development Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States at headquarters in New York, before joining the UN Global Compact. In 2017, she then joined the UN family in China as Head of Office for the UN Global Compact.

“That really triggered my strong interest to pursue a career focusing as an international civil servant”

In this episode, Ms. Liu outlines the history and work of the UN Global Compact. First announced in 1999 at the World Economic Forum by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Calling on companies to align strategies and operations with its Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, the UN Global Compact has more than 24,000 participants— including around 1,000 Chinese companies with an annual membership growth of over 25% in China during recent years. 

During the conversation, Ms. Liu highlighted the UN Global Compact’s efforts in China, specifically the launch of its China Strategy back in 2022. She elaborated on the seven key areas the Global Compact has been working with companies in China to advance the 2030 Agenda and emphasized the importance of creating synergies between China’s development priorities and broader UN goals. She believes delivering as one is a universal philosophy, which not only benefits the UN system, but could benefit the whole world in order to solve our common challenges.

Together with the Resident Coordinator, the two discuss other challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, as well as the UN Global Compact’s work to leave no one behind and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals as part of the UN system in China. 

Meng Liu

Ms. Meng Liu is the Head of Liaison Office in China of the United Nations Global Compact. She joined the United Nations Headquarters in 2007. Previously, Ms. Liu worked for the Asia Foundation in San Francisco and the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC. She was a fellow on Asian public policy with Harvard Kennedy School, and the book author of “Responsibility Changes the World-UN Global Compact Leading Business Revolution Worldwide”. In 2015, Ms. Liu was honoured as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum and nominated as YGL Chair for China for 2021-2023. She has been a member of the Global Future Council on Frontier Risks since 2020. In 2021, Ms. Liu was recognized as “One of the Top Ten Women from China with brand impact”.

Siddharth Chatterjee

Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of - and reports to - the UN Secretary-General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.

Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.

A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range of journals, which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian and, as of late, has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.

Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.