The APEC Seminar on Promoting Green Jobs and Resilient Development Through Capacity Building for Sustainable Entrepreneurs was held at Tsinghua University Science Park (TusPark) in Beijing from July 16-17. The seminar brought together government officials, experts, scholars, and industry representatives from 14 APEC economies for in-depth discussions on key topics including policy and scaling strategies for green tech startups, entrepreneurship and employment skill upgrade aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and challenges and opportunities for women, youths, and persons with disabilities in digital and green transitions. Participants shared best practices and research findings during the event.

Participants pose for a group photo at the seminar.

Jiang Wei, deputy director-general of the International Cooperation Department at China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, gave a keynote speech. He said that developing green employment and sustainable entrepreneurship serves as a crucial pathway for promoting economic green transformation and high-quality job creation. China's practical measures in this regard include incorporating carbon neutrality goals into national strategies, facilitating transformation of traditional industries, and enhancing green skills training, forming a distinctive policy framework, he said.

Kim Minkyu, labor counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China and representative of the 2025 APEC host country, said that sustainable entrepreneurship serves as an essential measure to address global climate change and promote inclusive growth. As the rotating chair, South Korea will continue promoting cooperation among APEC members in sustainable entrepreneurship, so as to jointly tackle climate challenges and create more green employment opportunities, he said.

Wang Jiwu, chairman of Tus-Holdings Co. Ltd., said in his address that the company will continue leveraging TusPark's strengths as an international sci-tech innovation hub. Under the APEC framework, Tus will share resources and experience with member economies to jointly advance global technological innovation and industrial upgrading, he said.

Gao Jian, director of the National Entrepreneurship Research Center, said that this event marked the first thematic seminar under the APEC framework focused on capacity building for sustainable entrepreneurs, representing pioneering significance. Stressing that youths constitute a vital force in sustainable entrepreneurship, Gao called for continuous optimization of the entrepreneurial ecology while strengthening the inclusiveness and resilience of the entrepreneurial system.

Donna Kelley, professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College, emphasized in her keynote speech that entrepreneurs serve as a pivotal force in addressing environmental and social challenges. All stakeholders should focus on and support young and innovative entrepreneurs, refining policies and ecosystems to unlock their vast potential in sustainable development, she said.

The seminar saw the release of a research report titled "The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Capacity Building of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in APEC Economies" authored by the National Entrepreneurship Research Center. The report analyzes the sustainable entrepreneurial ecology across APEC economies, their entrepreneurial capacities and training programs, and how APEC's international cooperation mechanisms can enhance sustainable entrepreneurial capabilities. It proposes establishing an APEC sustainable entrepreneurship action plan, and provides policy recommendations focusing on strengthening policy implementation, promotion, and coordination, as well as expanding the scale and improving the quality of sustainable entrepreneurship training programs.

The event was co-hosted by the National Entrepreneurship Research Center at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management and Tus-Holdings Co. Ltd.

Source: National Entrepreneurship Research Center at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management

Editor: Ren Zhongxi