(Yicai) April 30 -- Global leaders from government, business, and academia gathered in Shanghai recently for the 2026 Corporate Sustainable Development Conference to explore multilateral cooperation and sustainable development. The event, jointly organized by the Shanghai Services Federation and Yicai, was themed “Multilateral Action, Shared Destiny.”

The event focused on key topics including multilateral action, energy transition, and artificial intelligence-based new infrastructure, Belt and Road healthcare expansion -- referring to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global development strategy to boost infrastructure, trade, and investment links across Asia, Europe, and beyond -- as well as climate, sustainable finance, biodiversity, public welfare, and sustainable information disclosure.

Li Qian, party secretary of the Hongkou District Committee, said that greening, low-carbonization, digitalization, and intelligence have become the core directions of industrial upgrading. Sustainable development is no longer just an option for enterprises but a must-have, vital to companies improving quality and efficiency and making steady, sustained progress, he added.

Song Jiongming, deputy director and president of Shanghai Media Group, said the media’s communication capabilities can amplify the impact of sustainable development, while its guiding role can help strengthen momentum for green transformation.

Stephen Jackson, United Nations resident coordinator for China, said Shanghai has evolved into a leading global hub for environmental, social, and governance innovation, acting as a key gateway for China’s opening-up and an important bridge linking the country with the rest of the world in advancing sustainable development cooperation.

Erik Solheim, co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former United Nations under-secretary-general, said there is an urgent need for countries to learn from one another to advance a green transformation that prioritizes people, rather than focusing primarily on technology or nature.

Jean Todt, United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy on road safety, said the world is deeply interconnected, with no challenge occurring in isolation, and emphasized that all countries are affected by traffic accidents, making collective action essential.

Editor: Emmi Laine