7th International Conference on CSR Reporting | 2014
Archive Emerging Market Multinationals Network for Sustainability
Description
On 3 December 2014, the “Seventh International Conference on CSR Reporting” was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing. With the topic of “Responsible Communication Creates Value”, the Conference focused explicitly on the value of CSR reports in promoting stakeholder communication, as well as enhancing the level of corporate management brands and image. In addition, the GoldenBee CSR Report China Honor Roll Ceremony was organized to award companies for the quality of their CSR reports. More than 300 participants attended the Conference.
The event was hosted by China WTO Tribune and co-hosted by the Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility of the Embassy of Sweden, the China Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD), the Emerging Market Multinationals (EMM) Network for Sustainability implemented by GIZ, and the strategic partner, the China Southern Power Grid Company Limited.
The conference was moderated by Mr. Yu Zhihong, President and Editor-in-Chief of China WTO Tribune. Opening remarks were given by Liu Yuhua, Deputy Director General of the Department of WTO Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Peng Huagang, Director of the Bureau of Research of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), Mr. Zhai Qi, Deputy Secretary General of the China Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD) and Mr. Rolf Dietmar, China Project Director of the Emerging Market Multinationals (EMM) Network for Sustainability.
Report
Main Themes / Events
In the first session, Mr. Yin Gefei, Vice President of China WTO Tribune elaborated on the results of the GoldenBee CSR Report Index, which analyses the number and quality of CSR reports published by Chinese organisations. Afterwards, two panel sessions followed in the morning, in which experts and stakeholders discussed new standards, rules, and trends of CSR reporting and shared their experience of compiling CSR reports. The afternoon sessions featured three parallel panel discussions with the topics:
- New thinking of CSR reports promotion and application
- Balancing six principles of compiling CSR reports
- CSR information disclosure regarding operations of outbound investments by Chinese companies
The panel discussion on CSR information disclosure was hosted by the Emerging Market Multinationals (EMM) Network for Sustainability implemented by GIZ. It was moderated by Mr. Cheng Duosheng, Director, Enterprise Innovation Department of China Enterprises Confederation. Opening remarks were given by Mr. Rolf Dietmar, China Project Director, Emerging Market Multinationals Network for Sustainability. The panelists consisted of Mr. Qi Shaoyun, Assistant to the President and Director of the Communication Department, CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute Mr. Wang Wenhai, Deputy Director, General Office of China Minmetals Corporation, Ms. Li Tiantian, Liaison Department of China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters (CCCMC), Mr. Lu Jinghao, Project Manager, China-Africa Centre of Excellence Foundation.
The panelists agreed that CSR reporting can contribute to the reputation and the competitiveness of Chinese companies investing abroad. So far, only 5 Chinese companies that operate and invest abroad had issued specific CSR reports to communicate with international stakeholders and those in their host countries on their CSR performance.
A highlight of the conference was the ceremony to announce the “2014 GoldenBee CSR Report China Honor Roll”. In total 53 companies with excellent CSR reports were awarded.
Recommendations and Outlook
The Conference gave new insights into CSR reporting in China and offered a platform for exchange and discussion among the participants. Despite recognizing the tremendous achievements in CSR reporting in China which can be seen by the increasing number of CSR reports, the need for further improvements, especially in following an integrated approach to CSR was emphasized.
