Mr. James X. Zhan

Dr. James Zhan is senior director of investment and enterprise at UNCTAD. He also leads the World Investment Report and Transnational Corporations journal. 

He chairs the Governing Board of UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges, with all stock exchanges worldwide as partners. He initiated and co-chairs the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones, and the Family Business for Sustainable Development initiative. He is the founding chair of the World Investment for Development Alliance. He is also chief strategist for the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, and member of the Advisory Council for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

He has provided policy advice to numerous governments (including heads of states and ministers), parliaments and global summits (including G20, BRICS, ACP, APEC). He led the formulation of a global framework for a new generation of investment policies used in over 130 countries and regional groupings. He has also been leading the World Investment Forum since its establishment in 2008. 

He has held several advisory positions in academic institutions, including Cambridge University, Columbia University, Cornell University and Oxford University, as well as professor and PhD supervisor at Nankai University. He has extensive publications on investment, trade and technology related economic and legal issues. He has also directed over 300 UN publications and research projects. He has been a resource person for several global mainstream media, including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Economist.