2026 Enterprise Sustainable Development Conference

Distinguished Leaders, 

Esteemed Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Zao Shang Hao! 

It is my great pleasure to join you via video as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, on behalf of the entire UN family. 

Warm congratulations on the successful opening of the 2026 Enterprise Sustainable Development Conference. 

And my gratitude to the organizers and all participants for your commitment to advancing sustainable development in China and beyond.

Today, humanity stands at a critical crossroads in our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Interconnected global challenges — regional conflicts, accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, intensifying resource constraints and persistent inequalities — remind us that no country, no business and no community can thrive in isolation.

Sustainable development is imperative for our shared future.

It must be translated into actionable, measurable and inclusive action — by every institution, every single day.

The UN firmly believes that multilateralism is the fundamental pathway to addressing global challenges and achieving common progress. 

Under the theme “Multilateral Action, Shared Destiny” and the motto “Who Cares Wins, Who Acts Gains”, this conference aligns closely with the spirit of the 2030 Agenda.

Among all stakeholders, the private sector holds unique and powerful leverage to accelerate our path toward sustainability. 

That is why, within the UN system, we have a dedicated organization that connects the business world directly with global goals — the UN Global Compact. 

As the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative and the organization that invented the concept of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), the UN Global Compact today unites more than 25,000 companies worldwide.

All are committed to embedding ten universally accepted principles — on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption — into their strategies and operations. 

These companies are not just pledging; they are taking real action to advance the SDGs.

For businesses seeking to enhance their ESG performance and improve sustainability, Global Compact is indispensable. 

It offers practical guidance, a robust framework for reporting, access to best practices and a global network for peer learning and innovation. 

Here in China, over 1,000 forward-looking companies have already joined this movement. 

To those who have not yet done so, I strongly encourage you to become part of the UN Global Compact today. 

By doing so, you will align your enterprise with global standards, strengthen your ESG governance, and contribute directly to a more sustainable and responsible economy.

Friends – 

China is playing an increasingly important role in global sustainable development — moving steadily from a participant to a leader. 

As a responsible global actor, China has integrated ecological civilization into its national development strategy, vigorously promoting green and low-carbon transition, carbon neutrality, ESG institutional development and international multilateral cooperation. 

China is contributing valuable vision, solutions, and practices to global sustainability governance.

Shanghai, as a key gateway and hub of China’s opening-up, has become a global ESG innovation hub. 

It continues to explore cutting-edge pathways for urban sustainable development.

And it serves as a vital bridge connecting China to the world in cooperation for sustainability.

The UN highly commends these efforts and will continue to offer our full support.

Friends –

Enterprises are the core driving force of sustainable development — the critical link between policy, markets, society and the ecosystem.

For ESG to evolve from advocacy to implementation and from voluntary practice to standard-setting, we need continuous corporate innovation, supply chain transformation, transparent disclosure and long-term commitment. 

The UN system in China supports Chinese enterprises in integrating sustainability into their strategies, operations and governance.

We encourage more businesses to move from pledges to action, and from action to measurable impact — creating truly sustainable, inclusive, and long-term value.

The UN stands ready to work with the Chinese government, local authorities, businesses, academia and all stakeholders. 

Guided by our UN China Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, we will deepen practical cooperation in climate action, green transition, digital sustainability, biodiversity conservation, ESG capacity-building and global supply chain collaboration.

Friends –

Sustainable development is a shared cause for all humanity.

Faced with complex and pressing global challenges, we need solidarity, practical action and shared responsibility more than ever. 

Let us take this conference as a new starting point for action. 

Let governments, enterprises, international organizations and all sectors of society work hand in hand to deepen multilateral cooperation, embed sustainability into practice and make green and low-carbon development the global mainstream. 

Together, we will build a more equitable, inclusive, resilient and prosperous world for all. 

I sincerely wish the 2026 Enterprise Sustainable Development Conference a complete success. 

Thank you! Xie Xie!