The opening ceremony of the 2026 Sustainable Global Leaders Summit was held on the morning of 20 October at the Expo Park in Huangpu District, Shanghai. Chen Jing, President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Tu Guangshao, Co-Chair of the ESG Leaders Organisation Forum; Wang Jian, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Vice Chair of the World Green Design Organisation; and Charles Chao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sina Group, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Under the theme “Building a Resilient Future Together: Global Governance, Innovation-Driven Growth and Industrial Upgrading”, the summit released the 2026 Shanghai ESG Development Report. International guests attending the event included Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on United States–China Relations; Andre Geim, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics; Thomas Süßdhof, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; and Joseph Sifakis, winner of the 2007 Turing Award.
In his address, Chen Jing noted that Shanghai has always placed green, low-carbon and sustainable development at the centre of its urban development, and is doing its utmost to build a safe and resilient city and a Beautiful Shanghai. He said Shanghai is not only China’s largest economic centre city but also one of the world’s most dynamic, safest and longest-living mega-cities, and that it offers a world-class business environment. On sustainable development, Chen put forward three proposals: first, uphold innovation-led development to activate new momentum for sustainability; second, uphold openness and coordination to build a new global network for green cooperation; third, uphold the unity of knowledge and action to foster a pattern of common action across society. He also proposed jointly building green supply chains, sharing low-carbon technologies and co-creating an ESG ecosystem, so that Shanghai becomes a demonstration city where global sustainability ideas converge, projects are delivered and value is co-created.
Before the opening ceremony, Chen Jing exchanged greetings with Chinese and international guests and toured the second Green Industry and Sustainable Consumption Expo, held alongside the summit, talking with exhibiting institutions and companies. The same day, Chen also held discussions with heads of international organisations and expert representatives attending the summit on establishing a “Global Sustainable Development International Cooperation Network”.
The summit is hosted by the World Green Design Organisation (WGDO) and Sina Group, bringing together more than 300 leading guests, including representatives of United Nations agencies and international organisations, executives of leading Chinese and international companies and experts from authoritative think tanks. Participants addressed the real dilemmas and opportunities of global sustainable development, held in-depth cross-sector and cross-regional dialogue, built cross-sector consensus and explored sustainable development solutions that are both forward-looking and practical.
Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Holding Group; Pan Gang, Chairman and President of Yili Group; and Wang Li, General Manager of China Kweichow Moutai Group, spoke at the opening ceremony. Xu Huili, Secretary of the Huangpu District Committee of the Communist Party of China; Yang Zhao, District Mayor; Fu Jihong, Vice President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; and Xu Zhi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Huangpu District Committee, Executive Deputy District Mayor and President of the Huangpu District Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, attended related events.
Source: Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (Shanghai Youxie) | Editor: Lin Tiancheng | Original: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/g8igA0ey2B1e-mwq7wCkEA
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