World Leaders Convene in Beijing for Groundbreaking Forum on Sustainable Transition
Global Forum on Sustainable Transition in Beijing
From July 15 to 17, 2025, Beijing will host a historic international forum focused on accelerating the world's transition toward sustainability. This pioneering event aims to bring together top CEOs from leading global companies alongside prominent Chinese corporate leaders and government officials. It marks the first time under the banner of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) that these international and Chinese leaders will collaborate directly to develop solutions and drive actions that support the global shift toward sustainability.
The Sustainable Markets Initiative China Forum is organized jointly by the SMI and the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC). Given China’s critical role in the global economy and its increasing leadership in climate action and biodiversity, this forum presents a unique opportunity for a CEO-level dialogue that promotes sustainable innovation and global collaboration.
Coinciding with the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), this forum will highlight China’s role as a leader in clean energy. President Xi Jinping emphasized this in his climate speech in April 2025, noting that China has established the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system in the world, along with the most comprehensive industrial chain for new energies. China remains the world's largest producer of solar, wind, and hydropower, significantly outpacing the next ten investing countries combined in clean technologies.
Founded in 2020 by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, the SMI has become the leading private sector organization for driving sustainable change by fostering actions between key politicians and CEOs to place sustainability at the heart of value creation. The SMI's initiative aims to mobilize the trillions of dollars necessary for a sustainable future and a new era of global prosperity that endures across generations.
In October 2021, during the COP 15 UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, President Xi Jinping invited the then Prince of Wales to speak and establish the SMI China Council. In August 2022, the CCOIC officially became the host of the China Council during a virtual inauguration ceremony with His Majesty, highlighting the initiative's expanding influence in China.
The SMI China Council has deepened its cross-industry relations through mutually beneficial partnerships and currently operates working groups focusing on health, energy, carbon capture and storage, water, and sustainable finance.
The forum will feature roundtable discussions addressing pressing issues such as sustainable supply chains, emissions reduction, electrification, artificial intelligence, and the future of aerospace.
Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, M.V.O., CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, commented on the inaugural SMI China Forum by stating that it builds a new bridge between Chinese and international business leaders. “Win-win cooperation across boundaries, industries, supply chains, and finances will help accelerate the realization of a sustainable future while leveraging the transition as the growth story of our time.”
Since the establishment of the SMI's China Council four years ago, insights have been gained about the innovative approaches business leaders in China are implementing. Today, China leads globally in solar, wind, and electric vehicle capacity, demonstrating the economic viability and swift pace at which change can occur.
In a speech at the UN Biodiversity Conference COP 15, King Charles III remarked on the longstanding understanding in Chinese culture that the relationship with nature is crucial for human health and environmental integrity. Protecting land and oceans correlates directly with self-preservation.
Additionally, in his climate speech on April 23, 2025, President Xi Jinping stated, “Clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as gold and silver. The green transition is not only the key path to addressing climate change but also a new driver of economic and social development.”
Conclusion
The Sustainable Markets Initiative stands as a testament to the global movement towards sustainability, championing for a transformational shift that aligns economic growth with ecological responsibility. The Brazil event represents not just a conference, but a catalytic moment for global leadership in sustainable practices, paving the way for a sustainable future built on strong international and local partnerships.