HANGZHOU, 12 September 2026 — As the 2030 deadline to meet the Sustainable Development Goals for people and planet nears, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China convened a seminar in Hangzhou on 11–12 September to explore how green, digital South-South cooperation can turn commitments into action. Organized locally by the Institute of Global Development (IGD), the seminar brought together around 100 participants from government institutions, UN agencies, academia, development organizations and the private sector to find new ways of sharing knowledge, building capacities and enabling development that leaves no one behind.

Held to commemorate the 2026 UN Day for South-South Cooperation (SSC), the event took place against a backdrop of growing climate risks, persistent inequalities, widening digital divides and increasing pressure on international development financing. Participants emphasized that SSC offers countries an important means of learning from one another, adapting experience to local circumstances and building partnerships with a broader set of stakeholders.

Connecting development policy with practical cooperation

“Our shared priority is clear: supporting countries in moving from commitment to implementation, benefiting from each other’s strengths and expertise, collectively advancing the vision embedded by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Stefan Liller, UNDP Resident Representative in China.

“Countries across the Global South are facing multiple challenges, including food security, development financing, technological capacity and green transition. China has consistently been a firm supporter, active participant and important contributor to South-South Cooperation, and will continue to draw on its development experience to support other developing countries through South-South Cooperation,” said Shen Xiaokai, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of China.

In the welcome remarks session, representatives from Zhejiang Provincial also highlighted Zhejiang’s experience in innovation-driven, green and inclusive development, along with the importance of strengthening exchanges with partners across the Global South.

“The green transition and digital transformation present a historic opportunity for countries across the Global South to achieve leapfrog development,” said Chen Gang, Vice President of Zhejiang University. “As we work toward our goal of becoming a globally preeminent, innovation-driven university, Zhejiang University is committed not only to advancing academic research, but also to contributing our expertise and solutions to address the development challenges facing the Global South.”

The keynote session brought together global, national and institutional perspectives on South-South cooperation.

“What I find most encouraging is that many of these collaborations focus on practical implementation. Not theories. Not abstractions. Practical solutions. Over recent decades, China has accumulated rich experience and expertise in poverty reduction, infrastructure development, renewable energy deployment, industrial upgrading, digital transformation and public service delivery. Increasingly, that experience is being shared internationally through different forms of cooperation,” said Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator in China.

“Traditional South-South Cooperation has focused more on areas such as poverty reduction and food security, while green development and digitalization are emerging as new strategic areas for cooperation. China’s leading technologies and practical experience in fields such as artificial intelligence and renewable energy have the potential to benefit more countries across the Global South through international cooperation,” said Wang Yiming, former Vice Chairman of the Development Research Center of the State Council.

“In today’s complex and interconnected world, South-South Cooperation is increasingly becoming a key pillar of international development cooperation. This year’s United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation marks the first major international event hosted by the Institute of Global Development since its official launch. Building on this occasion, the Institute will promote innovation in global development theory and knowledge sharing through dialogue and exchange,” said Huang Xianhai, Dean of the Institute of Global Development and former Vice President of Zhejiang University.

A central message emerging from the discussions was the need to move beyond isolated projects and fragmented interventions. Effective cooperation, participants noted, requires combining policy advice, transferring technology, developing talent, strengthening institutions and jointly mobilizing resources.

This is particularly important as countries pursue green and digital transitions. While these transitions create new opportunities for innovation, productivity and improved public services, they also deepen existing inequalities when access to technology, skills, finance and decision-making remains uneven. Participants therefore stressed the importance of inclusion and local ownership in development cooperation.

Supporting an inclusive green transition

The first thematic session, “Green Development in the Context of Climate Change—Advancing Sustainable Solutions through South-South Cooperation,” examined how countries can pursue climate action while strengthening resilience, livelihoods and long-term development prospects.

Speakers from UNDP Nepal (video), the Bamboo Research and Development Center under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and Haining City of Zhejiang Province shared perspectives on climate resilience, sustainable resource use, ecological restoration, industrial upgrading and low-carbon development.

The panel discussion brought together perspectives from the UNHCR China, academia, industrial parks, energy companies and technology institutions. Participants considered how South-South cooperation can support climate solutions that are technically viable, economically sustainable and respond to community needs. They also examined social dimensions of the green transition, including women empowerment, employment, workforce skills and community participation, emphasizing that climate action and sustainable development should be pursued together, for inclusive transitions that leave no one behind.

Bridging digital divides through cooperation

The second thematic session, “Digital Economy and Inclusive Transformation—Bridging the Digital Divide through South-South Cooperation,” focused on the role of digital technologies in expanding access to services, strengthening economic participation and reducing development gaps.

Experts from the Global Development Promotion Center of China International Development Cooperation Agency, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Accessible Perception and Intelligent Systems, shared perspectives on digital development, accessible technologies and international cooperation. The session also included a panel with representatives from UNICEF China, the private sector and academia.

Participants emphasized that digital inclusion depends on more than internet connectivity. Affordable access, digital skills, accessible design, relevant content and responsible data and AI governance are essential to ensuring that digital transformation benefits rural communities, small businesses and people and children facing barriers to technology and services. These are critical elements to ensure that artificial intelligence and digital transformation expand opportunities for all, rather than deepen existing inequalities or generate new ones.

Learning from local practice

On 11 September, participants visited Hangzhou Digital Energy Port, a benchmark zero-carbon park, and DEEP Robotics, a Hangzhou-based technology company. The visits offered first-hand insight into local approaches to low-carbon development, digital innovation and technology-based solutions. 

The visits also illustrated that South-South cooperation is not about replicating a single model, but about sharing knowledge, adapting and co-developing approaches in response to different national and local contexts.

Looking ahead

Building on the discussions, UNDP and IGD will continue to engage with partners on opportunities for cooperation in research, training, youth engagement, volunteerism and Sustainable Development Goal localization. The seminar highlighted the value of South-South cooperation in connecting policy dialogue with practical experience and advancing inclusive responses to shared climate and development challenges.