On September 16 and 17, 2021, about 600 representatives from more than 50 countries, 14 regional and international organizations, and also from enterprises and social groups gathered here in Hangzhou to attend the 4th China Quality Conference. Focusing on the theme of “Quality Evolution, Digital Empowerment, Green Development, and Global Synergy”, the representatives have conducted in-depth exchanges and reached a broad consensus.

Recognizing that with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic severely impacting the global economy and trade, the international community is in pressing need to work together to tide over current difficulties. It is imperative now to strengthen global cooperation on quality. The scientific and technological revolution and the industrial transformation both represented by digitalization, intelligentization and network interconnection continue to develop both in scope and in depth. Meanwhile, cleaner production, green consumption and low-carbon lifestyle are thriving, greatly enriching the connotation, concept and practice of quality. The changing world calls for innovative quality, and upgraded quality would bring about a better future. We need to take initiative and act to advance quality reform, boost quality evolution, and deepen quality cooperation, so as to promote mutual benefit and win-win achievements.

We would like to raise the following initiatives that require us to:

1. Keep pace with the times and innovate the quality concept. Quality is the epitome of human civilization progress, and embodies mankind’s yearning for a better life. Quality reform should be conducted in an all-round manner, from concept, target, and system to the detail of specific fields. While pursuing economic performance, we should also fulfill social responsibilities, striving to be environmentally friendly, to dynamically balance and meet the diversified needs of enterprises, governments and consumers, and to better create economic, social and environmental values ultimately.

2. Utilize digital technology to empower quality upgrading. Currently, the rapid and widespread application of technologies, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain, has brought new opportunities and challenges to quality management and improvement. We should embrace digital technology, be involved in quality practices, and improve overall efficiency. We should develop digital quality, establish a quality traceability system, improve quality trust mechanisms, and improve total factor productivity.

3. Focus on green and low-carbon development to promote quality development. A sound ecological environment is the fairest public good which can benefit all people. Green, low carbon and environmental protection should be taken as new quality attributes and incorporated into the full life-cycle of quality management which includes product design, inspection, control and improvement. We need to improve the system of measurement, standards and conformity assessment which supports green development, and work to realize green, low-carbon and recycling production, distribution and consumption, so as to build a community with a shared future for human and nature.

4. Continue to promote inclusive development that benefits all to strengthen quality assurance. Quality must be people-centered, and meet diversified and multi-tiered consumer demand, so as to ensure that all people can benefit from the fruits of development. We should continue to increase people’s disposable income, diversify quality products, and effectively meet the quality needs of different groups of people, so as to achieve consumption upgrading. We should ensure the safety of food, drugs and consumer products and improve the quality of basic public services such as education, medical care and elderly care.

5. Promote connectivity to realize quality sharing. Quality infrastructure, including metrology, standards, certification and accreditation, and inspection and testing, is an important cornerstone of international economic and trade cooperation. We should follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and advance multilateral and bilateral cooperation and exchanges of quality infrastructure in a pragmatic manner. We should continue to improve the system of technical laws and regulations, develop proper standards and conformity assessment procedures, and reduce conflicts and barriers, so as to facilitate free trade and investment.

This conference reiterates and calls on everyone to cherish and uphold the above consensus. We will boost digital empowerment, accelerate green development, and promote global exchanges and mutual learning on quality. We will try our utmost in quality improvement and upgrading, and contribute to a stronger global economy and a better future for humankind.