On November 17, Chairman Ning Gaoning, the chairman of the Sustainable Development Working Group of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), attended the fourth online plenary meeting of ABAC in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, summarizing the results of the Working Group on Sustainable Development in 2020 and looking forward to priorities in 2021. The meeting brought together 60-odd ABAC delegates and 100-plus delegates-designate and attachés from 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chairman Ning pointed out in his speech that the performance of the Working Group in 2020 was pragmatic and rewarding, focusing on three main priorities including ensuring energy security and advancing sustainable development, addressing climate change and promoting circular economy, and facilitating food security and smart agriculture. The policies and recommendations adopted through deliberations had been included in the ABAC Representatives’ Letter to the Leaders of APEC Economies and the ABAC’s Letter to the Agricultural Ministers of APEC Economies. In particular, the Working Group has timely conducted special studies on the response to the epidemic, conveyed to Asia-Pacific economies highly-targeted and actionable policies and recommendations and suggestions on the path of recovery, and given full play to the role of the Asia-Pacific business community in offering its suggestions and recommendations.

In this regard, ABAC President spoke highly of Ning leading his Sustainable Development Working Group in researching issues in depth, building consensus, making policies and recommendations, and contributing to the overall annual work of ABAC.

Under the 2021 arrangements of APEC and New Zealand, the host country of ABAC, Ning will continue to chair the ABAC Working Group of Sustainable Development.

With regard to the 2021 Working Group’s plans, Chairman Ning pointed out that ensuring energy security and food security and addressing climate change are fundamental to the recovery and development of the Asia-Pacific region, the importance of which had been amply demonstrated in the response to the COVID-19 epidemic. They are crucial to inclusive growth and sustainable development in the “post-epidemic era.” As a next step, we should fully draw lessons from the epidemic, focus more on cooperation and collaboration, and address future challenges with a long-term vision and pragmatic measures. Mr. Ning said the 2021 working group will further focus on leadership, renewable energy and food systems in the area of climate change by taking into account the current situation, challenges and common concerns of all parties in the Asia-Pacific region in the area of sustainable development. The working group will incorporate climate change into policies regarding economic recovery in the post-epidemic era, draw up a roadmap for the transformation of renewable energy, and build a trade-friendly food system supported by digitalization.