UN Global Compact China Office Marks 25 Years of Impact at Annual Meeting in Beijing

The United Nations Global Compact China Office hosted the "Global Compact Local Action: 2025 United Nations Global Compact China Office Annual Meeting - Commemorating 25 Years of United Nations Global Compact" at the UN Compound in Beijing. The event, centred around the theme Sustainable Leadership and Chinese Companies' Globalization, brought together over 200 business leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the evolving role of corporate sustainability in China and how the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact are being integrated into the strategies and operations of Chinese companies worldwide. With less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the meeting aimed to galvanize corporate action towards 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Key Highlights from the Annual Meeting:

• Commemoration of 25 Years of the UN Global Compact: The meeting marked a significant milestone, reflecting on the initiative's history, mission, and its partnerships with China and the Chinese business community over the years.
• Strategic Dialogues on ESG Trends and Sustainable Leadership: Discussions focused on innovative pathways for embedding sustainability into corporate growth, while aligning business practices with the SDGs.
• Release of Annual Reports: The 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Work Summary for the UN Global Compact China Office were unveiled, showcasing the impact of China's business community in advancing corporate commitments and actions towards the SDGs.
• Inauguration of Expert Working Groups: Six new Expert Working Groups were established under the Belt and Road Initiative for SDG Action Platform, focused on sustainable transport, corporate compliance, traditional medicine and biotech, sustainable finance, global branding and the social value of businesses.

As the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact has spent the past 25 years advancing its Ten Principles, which address human rights, labour, environmental protection and anti-corruption. Since opening its office in China in 2017, the UN Global Compact has facilitated greater collaboration with Chinese companies, helping both local and multinational firms align their strategies and operations with international sustainability standards and global goals set out by the United Nations.

Global and Local Leadership on Sustainability
In her video address, UN Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in accelerating progress towards the SDGs: "We have been uniting and mobilizing businesses for a better world for 25 years, but there's still so much more work to be done. By committing to gender equity and living wages, by innovating for climate action, by protecting vulnerable water sources, by scaling sustainable finance, by ensuring resilient supply chains, and so much more, we will continue redefining the role of business in society."

UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, highlighted how sustainability has become a central pillar of corporate competitiveness. "These values build trust, they strengthen resilience, and they create long-term value for business, society and the planet. This is the true spirit of the Global Compact. Local action, transforming principles into policies and policies into measurable, meaningful and scalable impact on the ground."

Chinese Corporate Leaders Advocate for Sustainability
In his keynote address, Mr. Zhao Dong, UN Global Compact Board Member and Chairman of Xiamen Airlines, called on Chinese businesses to embrace the Ten Principles of the Global Compact and contribute to the SDGs on a larger scale. "As China continues to play a central role in the global economy, the responsibility of its businesses to lead by example in sustainable practices has never been more important," said Zhao.

Song Zhiping, President of the China Association for Public Companies, and Peng Huagang, President of the China Enterprise Reform and Development Research Institute, also shared their perspectives on sustainable development, offering actionable insights for Chinese companies navigating this crucial transition.

Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Leadership
A CEO roundtable discussion on Beyond Social Responsibility: Driving Corporate Resilience through Sustainable Leadership featured Ms. Meng Liu, Head of the UN Global Compact China Office, alongside prominent Chinese business leaders, including Ms. Zhao Yan, Chairperson and President of Bloomage Biotech; Mr. Chen Yingrang, CEO of Tingyi Holding; Mr. Zhao Bingdi, President of Panasonic China; and Ms. Hu Shumei, CEO of Ciming Oasis Healthcare Management and others. The discussion centred on how businesses can embed sustainability into their leadership models, transform environmental and social challenges into business opportunities, and build resilience for long-term growth amidst global uncertainties.

Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative to accelerate the SDGs
A key outcome of the meeting was the launch of six Expert Working Groups aimed at aligning corporate investments under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the SDGs. These groups will provide essential expertise and guidance to Chinese companies engaging in international infrastructure projects, helping to integrate sustainability research, risk management, standards alignment and capacity building into their operations.

The working groups include:

• Sustainable Transport: Promoting green and resilient development within major transportation sectors.
• Sustainable Compliance: Offering support for navigating complex international regulations and improving corporate compliance.
• Sustainable Traditional Medicine and Biotech: Fostering collaboration between traditional medicine and modern biotechnology to advance SDG 3: good health and well-being for all humanity.
• Sustainable Finance: Empowering green capital flows for responsible overseas investments to address SDG investment gap.
• Sustainable Branding: Assisting Chinese companies in building internationally recognized and responsible brand identities based on responsible practices.
• Sustainable Social Value Ecosystem: Promoting local community development and creating mutually beneficial outcomes for both businesses and the communities in which they operate.

These expert groups are positioned to play a pivotal role in supporting Chinese companies as they pursue sustainable growth while contributing to the global SDG agenda.

Looking Ahead
As the UN Global Compact marks 25 years of driving corporate sustainability worldwide, the China Office's continued efforts will be crucial in helping businesses align with the SDGs and lead the way in sustainable globalization. The establishment of these expert working groups, alongside ongoing dialogues and collaborations, demonstrates the commitment of China's business community to integrate sustainability into the core of corporate strategy and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable global economy.

For more information on the UN Global Compact China Office's initiatives and upcoming events, visit www.unglobalcompact.org.cn.