In partnership with its China network, the UN Global Compact convened a one-day 'China Summit' in Beijing to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and encourage companies to cooperate in addressing common challenges.
22 August 2016: In partnership with its China network, the UN Global Compact convened a one-day ‘China Summit’ in Beijing to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and encourage companies to cooperate in addressing common challenges.
The Summit brought together around 500 participants from the East Asia region, including representatives of business, government, youth, academia and civil society. According to UN Global Compact, around 300 businesses have joined the Global Compact China Network since its inception in 2011.
Addressing the Summit, UN Global Compact Executive Director Lise Kingo commended Chinese firms for their role in promoting sustainable growth and encouraged them to play a bigger role in helping other countries achieve the SDGs. She stressed that, as a country with over one billion people, China’s sustainable development will contribute to the fulfillment of the SDGs.
In a press release, the Global Compact Network China notes similarities between the SDGs and China’s five development concepts of innovation, coordinated development, green growth, openness and sharing.
The 8th Global Compact China-Japan-Korea (CJK) Business Roundtable and CJK Youth and Researcher Forum took place alongside the Summit. The CJK roundtable has convened annually since 2009 to promote collaboration and dialogue. The 2016 event involved over 100 people in discussing how companies can help to advance the SDGs.
In his opening remarks, Fu Chengyu, Chairman of the Global Compact China Network, emphasized the Network’s commitment to supporting successful implementation of the SDGs. Kingo stressed the essential role played by the Global Compact Local Networks around the world in translating the SDGs into local action.
Chinese translations of four UN Global Compact resources were launched at the roundtable event: the Global Opportunity report; the SDG Compass; a report on ‘Making Global Goals Local Business: A New Era for Responsible Business;’ and a report on ‘A Global Compact for Sustainable Development.’
Among the speakers at the event were students from China, Japan and Korea, who presented their ideas and solutions to sustainability challenges. The Youth and Researcher Forum further discussed issues related to the SDGs, including sustainable water consumption, supply chains and the Olympic Games. [UN Global Compact Event Webpage] [UN Global Compact China Webpage] [Global Compact China Network Press Release (Chinese)] [Global Compact Network China Website] [Global Compact Network Webpage] [Xinhua News Agency Story]