From 13 to 16 July 2026, the 2026 High-level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), including the ministerial segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. As a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with ECOSOC, the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) was invited to attend the meetings. The WFAS delegation consisted of Lin Rongsheng, Vice President of WFAS and Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and Li Xuhui, Director of the WFAS Qualification Assessment Committee and Vice President of the Acupuncture of America Independent Practice Association.

WFAS Vice President Lin Rongsheng (right) and Li Xuhui (left), Director of the WFAS Qualification Assessment Committee, at the meeting.

The HLPF is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the highest-level annual intergovernmental forum on sustainable development. Each year, it brings together governments, United Nations entities and a wide range of stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, to address major issues concerning global sustainable development. The 2026 Forum was held under the theme “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all”. The general debate of the ECOSOC High-level Segment was held under the theme “Delivering better: accelerating urgent and transformative action to achieve the SDGs by 2030”.

The meetings reviewed progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, with particular attention to Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; and Partnerships for the Goals. Representatives of governments, heads of United Nations entities and other stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, held in-depth discussions on global sustainable development, international cooperation and related issues. During the Forum, 36 countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews, sharing progress, experience and challenges in implementing the SDGs. The 2026 Ministerial Declaration was adopted at the closing meeting of the Forum.

During the meetings, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks at the opening of the ministerial segment of the HLPF, calling on the international community to strengthen cooperation and take more urgent, ambitious and coordinated action to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The President of ECOSOC, the President of the United Nations General Assembly and a youth representative also attended and addressed the meeting

During discussions on “Global Public Health and Health for All”, Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Vice-President of ECOSOC, met with WFAS Vice President Lin Rongsheng, who attended the meetings as a WFAS representative. They exchanged views on advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the role of non-governmental organizations, and WFAS’s participation in work related to the SDGs. During the exchange, WFAS’s efforts since obtaining special consultative status with ECOSOC in 2019 to support the United Nations in advancing the SDGs were positively acknowledged.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Vice-President of ECOSOC (right), with WFAS Vice President Lin Rongsheng (left).

Since obtaining special consultative status with ECOSOC, WFAS has actively participated in relevant United Nations meetings and exchange activities. WFAS will continue to leverage its professional strengths and platform role as an international academic organization, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with governments, international organizations and professional institutions, and promote the contribution of acupuncture to the health of people around the world. Through these efforts, WFAS will contribute to the development of traditional medicine, the health and well-being of people worldwide, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.