UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu to Visit Armenia for COP17 Leaders' Summit
Mr. Haoliang Xu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme, will travel to Armenia from October 14 to 17, 2026, to attend the Leaders' Summit of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The summit precedes the main COP17 conference, which runs from October 19 to 30 in Yerevan under the theme 'Taking Action for Nature'.
As UNDP's second-ranking official, Mr. Xu will join heads of state, international organization leaders, policymakers, and development partners to advance cooperation on biodiversity protection, sustainable development, and financing mechanisms for nature-positive initiatives. The conference marks a watershed moment for global conservation efforts, as it will conduct the first comprehensive review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15 in 2022.
The summit comes at a critical juncture following COP16 in Cali, Colombia, where participants were unable to reach a final agreement during the October-November 2024 gathering. COP17 represents a crucial opportunity to restore momentum for international biodiversity action.
High-Level Diplomatic Agenda
During his visit, Mr. Xu is scheduled to meet with senior Armenian government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, who has served in that position since May 2018 and represents Armenia in trilateral discussions on regional transport links. He will also engage with Hayk Konjoryan, Vice-President of the National Assembly.
Mr. Xu will participate in a high-level roundtable focused on "The Political Imperative: Safeguarding Nature for Peace, Security and Development." Additionally, he plans to meet with UNDP Armenia Country Office staff and visit a locally-supported energy efficiency project that demonstrates sustainable development solutions.
Armenia's Biodiversity Credentials
The selection of Armenia as host reflects the country's exceptional natural heritage. Despite occupying only 6.7 percent of the Caucasus region, Armenia is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, home to more than 3,800 plant species—including over 130 endemic varieties—and more than 17,000 animal species. Approximately 13 percent of Armenia's territory consists of specially protected areas that preserve nearly 60 percent of the country's flora and fauna.
However, the host nation also faces significant conservation challenges. Armenia loses around 110 hectares of forest annually, primarily due to illegal logging, firewood collection, overgrazing, mining activities, and climate change impacts. In response, the country has pledged to restore forests across 12.9 percent of its territory by 2030.
Addressing the Financing Gap
A central focus of COP17 discussions will be mobilizing resources for biodiversity conservation. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework established a target of mobilizing at least 200 billion dollars annually for biodiversity by 2030 from all sources. Current funding stands between 78 and 91 billion dollars per year, representing a shortfall of approximately 60 percent.
Institutional Background
The Convention on Biological Diversity opened for signature at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and entered into force in December 1993. Representatives from 196 countries now participate in the convention's proceedings.
Mr. Xu brings extensive international development experience to his role. He joined UNDP in 1994 and has completed field assignments in Iran, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan over nearly three decades. Appointed to his current position in 2023, he previously served as UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, as well as Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.
