On May 18, 2016, Ma Yansong was invited to attend the 10th Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and delivered a keynote speech. As the first Chinese architect to attend the summit, Ma Yansong introduced MAD's global practice and its design concept inspired by Eastern philosophy to the participants: exploring the future of architecture, advocating the combination of urban density, function and landscape, and re-establishing the emotional connection between people and nature.

The 10th Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit was co-hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. With the theme of "New Frontiers", it invited pioneers from across industries around the world to share different stories and perspectives on "emotion, function and sustainable direction".

On the evening of the event, Ma Yansong was awarded the "World's Most Creative Person" award by the conference to recognize his persistence and progress in architectural innovation.