NEW YORK, September 21, 2026 — The President of the United Nations General Assembly and two Nobel Peace Prize laureates led an UNGA High-Level Side Event on Social Business, Youth and Technology at United Nations Headquarters in New York, supported by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) as a member of the Global Committee on Social Business for Sustainable Development Goals.
James Chau, President of CUSEF, served as a co-moderator and panel speaker at the event alongside H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly; Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate; and José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate, and others.
CUSEF joined the Global Committee on Social Business for Sustainable Development Goals in 2025, making this the Foundation’s second year participating in the annual event as a Committee member. The High-Level Side Event brings together leaders, practitioners, innovators and young people to advance practical solutions for sustainable development through social business, youth leadership, and responsible technology.
“Some of the most important voices we heard today came from young people themselves,” said James Chau. “Students representing Sing For Hope, a New York-based nonprofit, reminded us that young people should not simply be invited into conversations about the future — they should have a real hand in shaping it. At CUSEF, we see that same principle in our work every day: progress begins when we create space for people to meet, listen to one another, and turn dialogue into meaningful relationships and action.”
Held under the theme “2026: 50 Years of Micro Credit, 2030: The Year of Social Business,” the meeting marked 50 years of the Grameen movement and 20 years since Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Now in its 11th edition, the UNGA High-Level Side Event focused on practical, Global South-led approaches to financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, responsible technological innovation and sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman called for young people to move beyond participation toward leadership, including by helping design policy, build enterprises and implement solutions. He also highlighted the potential for responsibly governed artificial intelligence to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
The gathering also held particular significance for CUSEF following the passing of its Founder and Chairman Emeritus, the Honorable Tung Chee-hwa, on September 8. During the event, Dominique Dauster, Executive Director of The YY Foundation and a longtime partner in the Global Committee, paid tribute to Mr. Tung and noted that Professor Muhammad Yunus had written a “heartfelt letter” of condolence following his passing.
The High-Level Side Event reflects the Global Committee’s broader work to strengthen cross-sector partnerships and bring together ideas and experiences from across generations and regions in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
About China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF)
China-United States Exchange Foundation is a Hong Kong–based non‑profit organization. Our mission is to serve as a platform for exchange among the peoples of China, the United States, and the world they shape together. Through open dialogue, mutual learning, and a commitment to shared responsibility, we build trust, understanding, and relationships for enduring peace.
