Beijing, May 26, 2025—The "Seminar on Sustainable Finance Promotes Inclusive and Green Structural Transformation," co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Shenzhen Honghai Clean Technology Research Institute, organized by the Ningyuan Institute of Climate and Sustainable Development (Hainan), was successfully held in Beijing. Forty-seven representatives from the UN system, international financial institutions, government agencies, academia, think tanks, and the sustainable finance sector engaged in online and offline discussions on climate investment and financing, green transition, and technical cooperation.

The Green and Digital Innovation Cooperation Project (GDIP) was jointly launched in March 2025 by UNDP, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Shenzhen Honghai Clean Technology Research Institute, and the Development and Reform Commission of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan Province. The initiative aims to integrate green technologies with digital innovation to advance the sustainable development of Hainan’s Zero-Carbon Island, Free Trade Port, and the China-EU (Baoting) Green Digital Innovation Cooperation Zone. It also seeks to explore low-carbon transition models and innovative financing frameworks tailored to developing countries, particularly marine and island regions.

As a key event under the GDIP project, leveraging UNDP’s Integrated National and Local Financing Framework (INFF/ILFF), this seminar focused on combining research and practices to promote the allocation of sustainable finance in supporting green structural transformation and climate resilience in marine and island regions.
 
During the seminar, the UNDP China Ocean and Island Climate and Sustainable Development Innovation Lab was officially launched. This lab will serve as a platform for incubating and scaling innovative solutions for island and coastal areas, facilitating regional low-carbon transitions and international knowledge cooperation.

Ms. Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China, highlighted: "From the rapid growth of the green bond market to the establishment of innovative financial frameworks, China has developed remarkable momentum in aligning financial flows with sustainable development priorities. Moving forward, it will be critical to continue building on this work and ensure that these financial instruments reach the communities and ecosystems that need them most. Today’s seminar reflects our shared commitment to advancing these efforts, we will explore how to formulate and adopt Integrated National and Local Financing Frameworks (INFF /ILFF) and examine the experience and lessons of regions like Baoting County, which is pioneering innovative approaches to sustainable development financing."

Ms. Li Shuyin, Deputy Director-General of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized: "The Lab will leverage the advantages of UN agencies to focus on green and digital transformation. It will systematically document China’s best practices and successful experiences, foster research, exchange, and collaboration, and actively share these insights internationally to expand the circle of global cooperation. The lab will serve as a platform for innovation, research, and partnership, uniting diverse stakeholders to address the challenges posed by climate change to marine and island ecosystems."
 

Mr. Ye Lihao, Standing Committee Member of the Baoting County Party Committee and Executive Deputy County Governor, remarked: "We also look forward to the implementation of UNDP’s Integrated Local Financing Framework (ILFF) in the Baoting Innovation Zone. By optimizing public fund allocation and mobilizing private capital, we aim to explore a sustainable finance pathway for Baoting that achieves a win-win scenario for both ecological protection and economic development."

Ms. Lai Danni, Head of Sustainable Finance of Ningyuan Institute of Climate and Sustainable Development (Hainan), shared: "This seminar marks the official launch of sustainable finance research under the GDIP project. The research will bring together leading international and national teams to advance practices across three modules: planning, standards, and application. The goal is to develop replicable and scalable financing mechanisms, offering a 'Chinese model of sustainable finance' for Baoting and other marine and island regions."

The workshop also featured experts from UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, Peking University, the Asian Development Bank, and the Climate Bonds Initiative, who provided constructive insights and recommendations on green investment and financing experiences in developing countries and how local governments can leverage international mechanisms to drive structural transformation for Baoting, Hainan.

UNDP will continue to collaborate with governments, research institutions, international organizations, and private sector partners to deepen sustainable finance research, incubate technical solutions, and pilot implementations. These efforts will support Baoting County, Hainan, in achieving its dual-carbon goals, while providing practical and inclusive sustainable development models for other climate-vulnerable regions worldwide.