From November 2 to 4, the 2024 World Jewellery Confederation Congress was held in Shanghai, marking the first time this event has taken place in China.
Attending the congress were Liu Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government; Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President of the World Jewellery Confederation; Ye Zhibin, Chairman of the China Jewelry and Jade Jewelry Industry Association; Wang Baomin, Chairman of the National Gemstone Testing Center Group; Li Dong, President of Shanghai Donghao Lansheng Group; Damien Cody, President of the International Colored Gemstone Association; Edward Asscher, Vice Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Feriel Zerouki, Senior Vice President of De Beers Group; Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030; and Matteo Farsura, Global Market Director of the Italian Exhibition Group Vincenzaoro. Nearly 200 representatives from jewelry associations and enterprises from five continents participated in the event.
During the congress, the World Jewellery Confederation's various specialized committees, including those focused on diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls, gemology, precious metals, coral, ethics, and responsible sourcing, discussed key topics in their respective fields, forming new consensuses. These will be published in subsequent revisions of the "Blue Book."
The congress also featured several special sessions that invited Chinese and international representatives to engage in lively discussions on topics such as jewelry design education, the impact of government policies on the jewelry industry, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development.