Executive Director Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, 

Vice Chairman Mr. Ren Hongbin, 

President Mr. Marcos Prado Troyjo, 

Dear Colleagues,

It’s a great pleasure to join you at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2022 on Sustainable Development.

Nowadays, global issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, intensified geopolitical tensions, unbalanced global economic recovery, climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising inequality, are posing unprecedented challenges for us to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact should give full play to its unique advantages, strengthen guidance to its membership, promote stronger public-private partnerships, and mobilize the international community to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

First of all, we should unite against the pandemic and boost post-pandemic recovery. The UN Global Compact should take advantage of local networks and other resources to promote international cooperation among corporates in vaccine research and development, production, and distribution, help countries recover better from the pandemic, jointly build multiple lines of defense against the virus, and work for a global community of health for all.

Second, we should prioritize development to reinvigorate the world economy. The Covid-19 pandemic testifies to the importance and urgency of poverty alleviation, food security, digital economy, infrastructure construction, and other development-related issues. The UN Global Compact needs to encourage corporates to reinforce investment in these priority areas, and address the unbalanced and insufficient development among countries. Meanwhile, multinational businesses should play their significant roles in maintaining the stable and smooth global industrial and supply chains, so as to drive the world economy back on the track to recovery.

Third, we should strengthen scientific and technological innovation and promote green development. Global corporates should seize the opportunity of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and vigorously promote scientific and technological innovation through deepened exchanges and cooperation. We need to promote the development and application of environmentally friendly technologies, and accelerate digitalization as well as green and low-carbon industry transformation to build new strength for future development.

Fourth, we should adhere to the value orientation and fulfill social responsibilities. The UN Global Compact should actively engage in global development with full mobilization of corporate resources. We must resolutely oppose all forms of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and promote an international trade system that is open, fair, and non-discriminatory. While carrying out business activities, corporates should also actively shoulder their social responsibilities and obligations such as environmental protection, and contribute to society and people’s well-being.

Dear colleagues,

Over the years, Chinese companies have always been actively participating in international cooperation. While seeking their own development, they have also contributed to the local sustainable development by integrating into local communities and living up to their social responsibilities. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese companies, under the guidance of the Chinese government, have started joint production of Covid-19 vaccines with 19 countries, with an annual production of over 1 billion doses, fulling our commitment to making vaccines a global public good. China will continue to foster an enabling business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We will offer more market, investment, and growth opportunities to the global business community by launching more high-quality projects through bilateral, third-party and multilateral cooperation.

Last September, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, calling on the international community to jointly address challenges and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for stronger, greener, and healthier global development. At the beginning of this year, the Permanent Mission of China to the UN launched the Group of Friends of the GDI in New York. Recently, we have successfully hosted a high-level virtual meeting of the Group, which has received broad attention from the international community. By now, the Group already has 55 members. We welcome the UN Global Compact and its member enterprises to participate in the GDI, offer advice on the implementation of the Initiative, and carry out practical cooperation in the priority areas to lend new impetus to global development. 

China stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the UN Global Compact. We look forward to enhanced ambition and actions by its members for the 2030 Agenda. Let’s jointly take actions to make greater contributions to global recovery and sustainable development.

Thank you.