China International Fair on Investment and Trade: Opening

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to join you at the China International Fair for Investment and Trade.

On behalf of UN Trade and Development, and in representation of our Secretary-General, Rebeca Grynspan, allow me to extend our deep appreciation to the Government of China, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Province of Fujian for your warm hospitality and for your unwavering partnership over so many years.

We meet at a time of profound transformation, where geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and widening inequalities are reshaping our world. Almost every day, we see the signs of barriers rising and globalization retreating.

These trends undermine not only cooperation but also sustainable development. They put at risk the hard-won progress of past decades.

In this context, the CIFIT carries even greater significance. For a quarter of a century, this forum has been a trusted platform where governments, investors, innovators, and development actors come together.

CIFIT is a space where partnerships are built, where ideas become action, and where cooperation can prevail over division.

It also provides an opportunity to learn from China’s remarkable journey of innovation and sustainable growth. Over the years, through initiatives like this, China has helped build bridges between economies, connect capital with opportunity, and align investment with development priorities.

As Secretary-General Grynspan has emphasized, “Investment is more than just capital flows or project pipelines. It is a signal of where we are placing our best as a society, what we value, where we see potential, and who we believe must be part of the future.”

Indeed, investment shapes our economies, our technologies, and our societies. Today, it must also shape our collective response to climate change, to the digital transformation, and to rising inequality.

Yet the current trends are concerning.

Our latest World Investment Report shows that in 2024 global foreign direct investment declined by 11% — the second consecutive year of decline.  Beyond these figures, there are tangible costs:

The jobs that were not created.

The infrastructure that was not built.

The innovation that was delayed.

And the sustainable development that was placed on hold, particularly in developing countries.  

As a result, the annual financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals is widening to more than four trillion dollars.

We need bold and coordinated action to redirect investment towards sustainable and inclusive development.

That is why we are launching the Future Investment Conference together with our Chinese partners.

This new forum will serve as a global platform to explore how investment, technology, and sustainability can converge to shape a new era of international cooperation.

We will discuss how to harness innovation, mobilize capital, and align policies so that investment flows to where it is most urgently needed:

• to clean energy and climate resilience,
• to digital transformation and connectivity,
• and to inclusive growth that leaves no one behind.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Future Investment Conference, and once again, congratulations to 25 years of CIFIT’s outstanding contribution to global investment and cooperation. Thank you.