Xi says sustainable growth is 'golden key'

President Xi Jinping called on Thursday for building up international consensus and taking action to inject greater momentum into efforts to promote global sustainable development.

He made the remarks while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Informal Dialogue with Guests and working lunch in San Francisco.

Xi said that sustainable development is the "golden key" to addressing global challenges. In recent years, the regional forum has implemented the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and has continued to strive to secure the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy, making positive contributions to green and sustainable global growth, he said.

"Efforts should be made to further consolidate consensuses, focus on action and inject greater momentum into the global sustainable development cause," he added.

APEC aims to build "an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040 for the prosperity of all our people and future generations", according to the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 declaration.

At last year's APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Dialogue in Thailand, leaders endorsed the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular-Green Economy — a comprehensive framework to further APEC's sustainability objectives.

During Thursday's meeting, Xi urged efforts to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, forge a new path for green development transformation and ramp up global efforts to address climate change.

He underscored the need to place development at the center of the global agenda and build a political consensus in which everyone values development and countries cooperate for this purpose.

Xi called for greater efforts to transform and upgrade energy, industry and transportation; coordinate actions to reduce carbon emissions and pollution; expand green development; and promote inclusive and high-quality growth to build a harmonious home on Earth, where economic growth and environmental protection advance in tandem.

He emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns of developing countries in funding, capacity-building and technology transfers for tackling climate change, and called for the comprehensive and effective implementation of the UN Framework Convention and the Paris Agreement.

Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to deepening cooperation to build the "green Belt and Road" and to work with others to ensure environmental protection in areas such as infrastructure, energy and transportation.

China will consistently support developing countries in enhancing capacity-building to tackle climate change through the South-South Cooperation Fund. It is willing to work with all parties to make greater contributions to building a global community of development and creating a clean and beautiful world, he added.

The meeting was chaired by U.S. President Joe Biden and attended by leaders and representatives of the APEC economies.