In a meeting entitled "High-level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," held on the afternoon of 21 April 2016, TMCD Director Xiaolan Fu spoke as a discussant on a panel on the topic of "Enhancing Technology Development and Cooperation for Sustainable Development Goals."

Alongside renowned panellists including Mr Li Yong (Director General of UNIDO), H.E. Mr Sirodijidin Aslove (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Tajikistan), and H.E. Mr Esben Lunde Larsen (Minister for Environment and Food, Denmark), Dr Fu shared her expertise on innovation cooperation between developed and developing countries. Dr Peter Singer (CEO, Grand Challenges Canada) spoke about the role of both hard and soft innovation as necessary elements for fulfilling the SDGs, and Ms Robynne Anderson (CEO, Emerging Ag, Inc.) emphasised the importance of social and governmental systems for facilitating technology transfer.

Other panellists in the session included Ms Rachel Kyte (CEO, Sustainable Energy for All & Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General), Mr Thomas Videback (COO, Novozymes), and Ms Barbara Birungi (Director, Women in Technology Uganda). Mr Andrew Steer (President and CEO, World Resources Institute) acted as moderator for the session.