The 2026 Beijing International Sustainability Conference was successfully held on April 23, 2026. The conference, themed "Resilience in Action, Shaping the Future: High-Quality Cross-Border Adoption and Implementation of ISSB Standards," was hosted by the IFRS Foundation and organized by its Beijing Office, with support from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, China Construction Bank, and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Opening remarks were delivered by Michel Madelain, CEO of the IFRS Foundation; Emmanuel Faber, Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB); Lin Qiyun, Director-General of the Accounting Regulatory Department at China's Ministry of Finance; Wang Zhongjing, CEO of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance; Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and Chen Dongxiao, President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. The conference was moderated by Zhang Minwen, Special Advisor to the ISSB Chair and Head of the IFRS Foundation Beijing Office, together with Nicolai Lundy, Chief External Relations Officer of the IFRS Foundation. Zhang Minwen also delivered closing remarks.
The conference highlighted that ISSB Standards serve as a global baseline for investor-focused sustainability disclosures. High-quality adoption and implementation can enhance capital market transparency and facilitate capital flow and allocation. Participants strongly agreed that strengthening cross-border regulatory alignment and deepening stakeholder collaboration are essential for improving the quality of sustainability disclosures. Asia was noted as playing a critical role in building a disclosure ecosystem that aligns with global standards while accommodating local conditions.
Michel Madelain stated, "Our work serves the public interest by fostering trust and growth in the global economy and maintaining long-term financial stability. As the IFRS Foundation marks its 25th anniversary, we are committed to developing high-quality global standards and collaborating with partners worldwide, including China, to support high-quality implementation and enhance the information available to investors and capital markets."
As adoption of ISSB Standards gains momentum globally, jurisdictions are progressing at different paces. Reducing fragmentation in global capital markets has become a shared priority to maximize the benefits of improved information comparability for investors and streamline corporate reporting. Emmanuel Faber emphasized the strategic importance of the ISSB's "passport mechanism," which allows regulators to permit foreign issuers and subsidiaries to use ISSB-aligned disclosures to meet local requirements. This mechanism enhances information comparability for investors and reduces duplication and compliance costs for multinational companies.
Faber also highlighted Asia's leadership in sustainability, praising China's efforts to develop a disclosure system that connects with global ISSB benchmarks while reflecting local realities. He noted that this approach enhances transparency in Chinese capital markets and supports Chinese companies in global trade, investment, and financing activities.
Lin Qiyun emphasized that sustainability disclosure standards are crucial for promoting green, low-carbon transformation and sustainable development. China is actively developing a national unified sustainability disclosure system, with plans to release specific standards and application guidelines progressively by 2030. He called for collaborative efforts among enterprises, regulators, and multilateral institutions to build a robust disclosure ecosystem.
Wang Zhongjing noted that the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance supports the application of international standards in infrastructure investment in developing countries, with transparency and disclosure being foundational to its efforts.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey highlighted the relevance of ISSB Standards for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the region, noting that sustainable infrastructure supports both economic development and climate action. Improved disclosure helps reduce information asymmetry and guides capital to viable, transparent projects.
Chen Dongxiao stressed the importance of combining effective markets and proactive government policies, supported by robust sustainability disclosure platforms like the ISSB.
The conference featured four high-level dialogues focusing on investor needs, corporate practices, regulatory progress in Asia, and the role of multilateral institutions in capacity building. Discussions underscored the value of ISSB Standards in providing consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information, while also acknowledging the need for phased implementation and ecosystem support.
In his closing remarks, Zhang Minwen reiterated the global recognition of ISSB Standards as a baseline for sustainability disclosures. He emphasized the importance of tailored implementation approaches, cross-border collaboration, and capacity building supported by multilateral institutions.
ISSB Standards, designed to meet investor information needs, have been adopted or are under consideration in over 40 jurisdictions, representing approximately 60% of global GDP, over 40% of global market capitalization, and around 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions.