On September 8–9, 2026, The Future Investment Conference was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Wu Zhong, Director-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, attended the high-level opening, and moderated the sub-forum titled “Impact Investing and AI for a Sustainable Future.”
Jointly host by the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Xiamen Municipal Government, the Future Investment Conference was convened during the 26th China International Fair for Investment & Trade. The theme this year is “Global Investment in a Changing World.” Bringing together expertise from international organizations, government entities, enterprises, and investors, the conference explored opportunities and challenges for global investment in the AI era.
At the high-level opening on the afternoon of September 8, Nan Li Collins, Chair of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, Chair of the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones, and Lead of the United Nations World Investment Forum gave introductory remarks. Zhao Long, Governor of Fujian Province; Pedro Manuel Mareno, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD; and Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, attended and delivered opening statements. Subsequent sessions primarily focused on fast-evolving global investment landscape and related challenges, as well as investments in strategic sectors and emerging opportunities. Speakers shared in-depth insights and perspectives based on their front-line research and industry experience.
On the morning of September 9, the sub-forum “Impact Investing and AI for a Sustainable Future” was held in the main venue. Dr. Wu, Director-General of FCSSC, served as moderator. Keynote addresses were delivered by Zhang Laiwu, Chief Economist of FCSSC and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and by Ouyang Yongfu, Coordinator of the Sustainable Investment Council at UNCTAD, respectively. During the roundtable discussion, Dr. Wu invited five distinguished guests from diverse backgrounds: Guo Hongbo, Executive Director of the AI Lab at the Yangtze River Delta; Guo Xiaofei, Head of Sustainable Investing at the Kadoorie Family Office, Hong Kong; Kithmina Hewage, Director of Policy at the Center for Asian Philanthropy and Social (CAPS); Chen Mai, Founder and CEO of Shenzhen Tenclass Technology Co., Ltd.; and Li Chu, General Manager and CEO of Nurotron Biotechnology Co., Ltd., to share their insights. They discussed how AI developments and industrial transformation are unfolding, and how impact investing can contribute in a constructive and substantive way—spanning technology R&D, financial investment, policy research, and industry implementation.
In closing, Dr. Wu concluded the panel session by outlining a complete chain—from where technology originates and where capital is allocated, to how policy provides guidance and protection, and how industries translate ideas into practical solutions—ultimately ensuring that people benefit. He underscored that the integration of AI and impact investing is a reality unfolding now. While acknowledging challenges—such as the lack of patient capital, the difficulty of measuring social value, and the need to ensure equitable participation for the Global South—Dr. Wu emphasized that, as the speakers noted, these challenges also represent opportunities.
