Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Colleagues and Friends,
It is a great honour to join you all at this critical gathering, the "Dialogue on Investing in a Sustainable Future", in the dynamic city of Shenzhen.
We are meeting at a pivotal moment, where we have passed the halfway point to 2030, and are falling behind in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030. A little under half are showing “minimal” or “moderate” progress, and an additional one third have seen progress stall or move backwards.
Our collective urgent actions today to meet these global challenges will help determine the future of our planet and the 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 issues of our time.
Allow me to highlight key areas where our discussions today are particularly vital.
First, sustainable development and climate action. The science is clear: we are in a race against time to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. The latest reports remind us that the window to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree is closing rapidly. This reality demands immediate, bold action from all sectors of society.
Governments alone cannot shoulder this responsibility. The private sector, with its innovation, resources, and global reach, plays a crucial role in driving the transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy.
Investing in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and green technologies is not just an environmental imperative, but an economic opportunity that can create jobs, foster growth, and build a more equitable world.
Second, the digital economy and sustainable development.
Digital transformation offers unprecedented opportunities to accelerate progress toward the SDGs. However, the digital divide remains a significant barrier, particularly in developing countries. As we move forward, we must ensure that the benefits of the digital economy are accessible to all.
This requires investments in digital infrastructure, education, and skills development, particularly for marginalized communities. The private sector has a unique role in fostering inclusive digital growth, ensuring that technology serves as a bridge to sustainable development.
China's advancement in digital technology and its contribution to global digital governance underscore the importance of inclusive and equitable digital transformation.
Third, private investment and financing for sustainable development.
The SDG financing gap for developing countries is enormous, estimated at 4 trillion US dollars annually. Debt challenges have reached dramatic scales, with dozens of countries paying more for debt service than they can spend on the health and education of their people.
As we gear up for the Summit of the Future and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the importance of collaboration and trust cannot be overemphasized.
Fourth, the role of partnerships in achieving the SDGs.
The challenges we face are too complex for any one actor to solve alone. Partnerships between governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society are essential to drive the systemic change needed to achieve the SDGs.
We must build new alliances, strengthen existing ones, and leverage the strengths of all stakeholders to create innovative solutions.
China’s commitment to South-South cooperation and its role in international development through institutions and initiatives such as China International Development Cooperation Agency and Global Development Initiative highlight the importance of collaboration.
The private sector, in particular, must be a key partner in this endeavor, not only as a source of investment but also as a driver of sustainable business practices and responsible innovation.
In closing, I look forward to the outcomes of our discussions today and to the concrete contributions this dialogue will make to the Summit of the Future.
Thank you.