On September 24, 2026, the Washington-based World Bank awarded Chinese lawyer Jack Li (Mr. Li Zhiqiang) a Letter of Appreciation in recognition of his expert contributions to the 2026 Business Environment Assessment.

Six Letters of Appreciation

This marks the sixth consecutive time Jack Li has received the World Bank’s Letter of Appreciation. As a designated expert for the Bank’s Business Environment Assessment, Jack Li has participated in multiple evaluation cycles over the years, providing independent, professional, and prudent judgments from the perspective of a market practitioner. His assessments of Chinese business environment—particularly in Shanghai—have been comprehensive, objective, rational, and impartial. The World Bank’s lead coordinator for the assessment praised Jack Li’s expertise and insights as foundational to its flagship report currently under compilation. The Bank also commended his collaborative spirit and expressed deep gratitude for his invaluable contributions.

In-Person Communication: Candid Perspectives Shared

On May 20, 2025, at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., Jack Li met with the institution’s project leaders. He emphasized that since China’s accession to the WTO, and particularly over the past decade, both the central government and the Shanghai municipal government have increasingly prioritized optimizing the business environment. This commitment spans legal frameworks, judicial interpretations, administrative efficiency, market dynamics, rule of law, and cultural inclusivity—all with a focus on enhancing market entities’ sense of benefit and satisfaction. In Shanghai, he noted, the rule of law has become a hallmark of the city’s core competitiveness. Jack Li highlighted a milestone event: In April 2021, Shanghai hosted the 30th Annual Meeting & Conference of a major international legal organization—the first such gathering in the city’s 178-year history since its opening up as a port city. Attendees included Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations Over 200 experts from more than 30 countries and regions delivered speeches that showcased Chinese image as an open, cooperative, self-reliant, and progressive nation. The conference’s theme song, We Are Together, resonated globally from Shanghai, conveying values of shared destiny and collaborative development. Reflecting on his 35-year career, Jack Li stated that he has personally witnessed the captivating allure of Shanghai as a world-class city.