At UNDP, our strategy for a circular future has two tracks:

First, we work from the top-down to embed circular principles into the very architecture of the country's industrial transformation. Our focus is on upstream interventions—reshaping national policies, transforming production systems, and elevating design standards from the very beginning.

In practice, this means working hand-in-hand with partners to develop new technical standards for sectors like secondary copper and electronics. It involves establishing Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks, championing eco-design, and integrating informal waste recyclers into formal systems. This work is about facilitating a systemic shift, and it lays the crucial groundwork for scaling circular solutions across entire industries.

But a systems-level framework, on its own, is not enough. This is where the second track—the bottom-up engine of change—comes in, and this is precisely where all of you enter the picture.

Young people are the pivotal force that connects policy to practice and ambition to action.  

By leveraging innovation and fostering sustainable patterns of consumption and production, all of you, as changemakers, stand at the forefront of progress. You are the ones who will lead this transformation, driving inclusive economic growth while safeguarding our environment.

This belief in your potential is why we are all here today.

8 years ago, the UNDP regional office for Asia and the Pacific, alongside the Citi Foundation, began Youth Co:Lab. Here in China, we have been proud to join hands with SCLSCC and Citi China to anchor this National Dialogue. This platform has allowed us to witness, time and time again, the remarkable impact young entrepreneurs can have on society.

Over the past seven years, this National Dialogue has supported over 500 young Chinese social entrepreneurs to embed the SDGs into their core missions. We have convened over 50 stakeholders—from government and industry to finance and academia—to build a more empowering environment for your success.

Our support has been continuous and evolving. From the Springboard Social Entrepreneurship Courses that build your skills, to the Youth Innovation Grants that fund your growth, we are committed to empowering your start-ups to innovate and scale up where possible.    

This year, we are excited to continue this legacy. We have 60 young people from 35 start-ups that were selected from a total of 237 start-ups that applied.  

I want to congratulate all of you on being chosen to participate in this important event.

I am confident that each of you will build upon the strong foundation laid by the entrepreneurs who came before you.

Moving forward, UNDP China remains committed to deepening our partnerships and strengthening this ecosystem. We will continue to work with government, civil society, the private sector, and impact investors to support youth-led businesses in advancing the circular economy and taking their ideas to scale.

In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to our invaluable partners, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, SCLSCC, CICETE, and Citi China for your unwavering commitment to nurturing the ingenuity and passion of young entrepreneurs.

And to all the young leaders here: we determine the future through our actions today. As you set forth on this journey, remember that you are not just working to realize your individual ideas, but collectively contributing to shaping a better world for all.

I wish you a most productive, collaborative, and inspiring Dialogue.

Thank you, and 加油！