Summit of the Future events in China finish with Shenzhen dialogue

This dialogue was the final in a series of UN-hosted events in China ahead of the upcoming Summit of the Future. Attendees included senior government officials from China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, UN representatives, business leaders from the networks the Teochew International Federation and the Teochew International Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as others from multilateral development banks, the private sector, think tanks, foundations, academia and other sectors of society.  

During his opening remarks, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, H.E. Mr. Li Junhua, said, “Our collective urgent actions today to meet these global challenges will help determine the future of our planet and well-being of generations to come. Today’s dialogue takes place at a critical juncture on the road to the Summit of the Future next month, where the world leaders will chart a path forward to address the pressing issue of our time.” 

Here, the dialogue sought to bring in perspectives from the private sector in order to leverage their expertise and resources in addressing global challenges such as poverty and climate change while acknowledging China's role as a source of insights and lessons for other nations navigating on their own paths to the SDGs, including through mechanisms such as South-South cooperation.  

During his remarks at the dialogue, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, H.E. Mr. Dai Jintao, said, “Shenzhen will take this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with international organizations, including the UN, study global sustainable development best practices, accelerate modernization in harmony with nature, explore replicable and scalable paths for the sustainable development of mega-cities, and contribute to the sustainable development of cities in China and globally.” 

During the dialogue, keynote speeches and panel discussions raised topics such as the need for increased financing for sustainable development, building a vibrant ecosystem for the environmental, social and governance framework, and the specific role of Chinese enterprises in all of these efforts.

During his keynote speech at the dialogue, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, H.E. Mr. Zhao Fengtao, said, “Through the coordination of public-private partnerships, China will guide the development financing community and the private sector to strengthen cooperation, promote coordination of standardization, and enhance experience sharing.” 

As highlighted during the dialogue, advances in areas such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy will likely present both threats and opportunities for Chinese enterprises looking to advance sustainable development, requiring better global governance and more robust frameworks.

During his closing remarks at the dialogue, UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, said, “Three key characteristics to answer our development questions are determination, imagination and courage. They are crucial for embracing fundamental changes in our way of thinking and operating, reminding us that the “business as usual” mentality is no longer viable.” 

With just weeks to go until the talks get underway at UN Headquarters, the Summit of the Future remains a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation, reaffirm existing commitments, including the UN Charter and the SDGs, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system.

The UN in China is grateful for the contributions from our key government counterparts to this dialogue, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the International Cooperation Center. The dialogue also received strong support from Yingke Law Firm.

---For further information, please contact:

Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China                      

Tel: +8610-85320725, Email: xi.li@un.org