2 July, Beijing – As cities around the world seek to harness digital transformation for more inclusive and sustainable development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joined partners at the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC) to advance practical approaches for building digital-friendly cities. 

Co-hosted by UNDP, the National Cyberspace Administration, the National Data Administration, Xinhua News Agency and the Beijing Municipal Government, GDEC brought together high-level international delegations - connecting global digital governance discussions with city-level agendas where digital transformation is experienced directly by people and businesses.  

UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu delivered remarks at the conference’s opening ceremony. “When designed and deployed responsibly and equitably, digital technologies can improve service delivery, support small businesses, strengthen urban management, and help communities prepare for climate impacts and other shocks, but realizing this potential requires more than technology alone,” said Xu. 

“It requires concerted efforts from businesses and institutions, as well as strong governance capacity, to ensure that digital innovation broadens access, strengthens trust, expands opportunity, and contributes to urban development that is sustainable and inclusive,” he added.  

Later in the day, James George, UNDP Resident Representative ad interim in China, joined partners at the GDEC Main Forum "Global Dialogue on Digital-Friendly City Development" for the release of the Global Digital-Friendly City Evaluation Guidelines and to kick off the development of the Global Digital-Friendly City Development Report. 

As a knowledge output of the UNDP China project on digital friendly and digital economy for sustainable development, the Guidelines provide cities with a practical framework to benchmark digital development and identify pathways toward more inclusive, trusted and sustainable digital transformation, aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Digital Compact. 

On July 3, George will also join partners to inaugurate UNDP China’s Innovation Lab for Digital-Friendly and Digital Economy Sustainable Development in Beijing. Developed with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, and the People's Government of Beijing Daxing District, the Lab will serve as an implementation platform for applied research, policy innovations, city-level demonstration pilots and international knowledge exchange to strengthen people-centred urban development to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Together, the Guidelines, forthcoming report and Lab create evidence-based pathways from assessment to action: cities can identify priorities and benchmark progress, while the Lab helps test solutions, support implementation and share lessons across cities. By linking GDEC's global convening power with implementation in Beijing, UNDP aims to help ensure that digital transformation contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).