From October 16 to 19, the 2024 ESG Global Leaders Conference, co-hosted by China Citic Group and Sina Group, with the joint organization of Sina Finance and China Citic Publishing, was held in Shanghai. The conference focused on the theme “Promoting Global ESG Cooperation, Development, and Win-win Solutions.” It organized parallel forums on topics such as energy and dual carbon, green finance, sustainable consumption, and technology and public welfare, discussing ESG open cooperation and promoting innovative practices for sustainable development under new circumstances.

Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the conference and delivered a speech. Gu Shengzu, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Gao Zhidan, Director of the General Administration of Sports of China, and Chen Jie, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, were also present. Xi Guohua, Chairman of China Citic Group, Tu Guangshao, Co-Chair of the ESG Leaders Organization Forum, and Cao Guowei, Chairman of Sina Group, each delivered speeches. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, gave a keynote speech via video. Jiang Xipei, Founder and Chairman of the Far East Holding Group, was invited to attend.

In his opening speech, Chen Jining emphasized that Shanghai will deeply implement Xi Jinping’s ecological civilization thought, aligning with the strategic deployment of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, to accelerate the establishment of a green and low-carbon development mechanism, improve the regulatory system, promote industry self-discipline, and enhance corporate governance, thereby creating a favorable system and environment for the development of corporate environmental, social, and governance practices.

Chen Jining stated that China is an important practitioner and promoter of global sustainable development. In recent years, Shanghai has strengthened ecological and environmental protection in accordance with President Xi Jinping’s directives and central government decisions, accelerated industrial upgrading and structural adjustment, and worked to enhance sustainable development capabilities. On the new journey, Shanghai will focus on promoting the green transformation of enterprises. Efforts will include improving foundational support, accelerating the planning and construction of a new energy system, enhancing the carbon market trading system, and exploring the establishment of carbon emission statistical accounting, product carbon labeling certification, and carbon footprint management systems. To build green supply chains, Shanghai will support leading enterprises in collaborating with their upstream and downstream partners to reduce emissions jointly and encourage enterprises to undertake comprehensive green transformation. It will focus on developing an environmental, social, and governance practice system. Emphasis will be placed on enhancing enterprise capabilities, scientifically developing assessment criteria, perfecting the standards system, optimizing data collection methods, guiding enterprises to strengthen information disclosure, and actively participating in energy conservation, emission reduction, biodiversity protection, public welfare, and community services to better stimulate corporate awareness. To create a favorable environment, policies for fair competition will be improved, supervision of business ethics will be strengthened, harmonious labor relations will be promoted, investment and financing activities related to environmental, social, and governance practices will be vigorously supported, and professional service institutions will be cultivated and introduced to attract more specialized talent, thereby providing strong support for higher-level and deeper environmental, social, and governance practices. Efforts will also be made to deepen international exchanges and cooperation. In combination with expanding institutional openness, relevant institutions will be supported in participating in the design of international environmental, social, and governance frameworks, standard-setting, and rule promotion, facilitating international project cooperation and technology exchange, and effectively implementing international demonstration projects such as the Shanghai-Los Angeles Green Shipping Corridor. In support of enterprises going global, companies will be encouraged to engage in green trade and increase cross-border green investment, helping outbound enterprises enhance risk identification and management, and better comply with local laws and conduct compliant operations.

On October 17, Jiang Xipei participated in a themed dialogue titled “Ensuring Employee Rights and Building a Responsible Corporate Image” alongside Xie Fei, President and Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee of Century Huatong Group; Huang Haiyan, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Chint New Energy; and Li Kunlong, Chairman of the ESG Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Lotus Group. They engaged in in-depth discussions about how entrepreneurs can shoulder their responsibilities and safeguard the well-being of the public in the current context.

Jiang Xipei expressed that Far East has always adhered to its original intention of creating value and serving society while continuously adapting to changing circumstances. He shared the company’s care for vulnerable groups, highlighting that there are currently over a thousand employees with disabilities at the company. Positions that they can handle are prioritized for them, fulfilling the company’s social responsibility. He noted that last year, more than 38,000 graduates from 211 and 985 universities applied to Far East, while the acceptance rate was less than 1 in 190. In light of such an employment landscape, he called on enterprises to maintain a positive mindset, be empathetic toward employees and society, and reach broader consensus.

Jiang Xipei emphasized that as one of the core social organizations, enterprises bear the social responsibility of contributing to the welfare of the people and ensuring their well-being. Far East has consistently upheld the concept of respecting, developing, and achieving people, committed to balancing relationships with customers, partners, employees, shareholders, the government, and society to ensure satisfaction for all. As reflected in the theme of this ESG conference, this embodies the essence of the outstanding traditional culture of “harmonious win-win,” and is also the inevitable direction of global ESG development, in which Far East consistently remains at the forefront of the industry.

Accompanying Jiang Xipei at the conference were Jiang Chenghong, Senior Partner and Director, Chairman and General Manager of Far East Electric; Jia Hai, Senior Partner and Chief Strategic Customer Officer of Far East Holdings; Zhao Mingbu, Senior Partner and Customer Officer for the Shanghai region; and Senior Partners and Strategic Customer Officers Xu Jinxin, Li Yang, and Jiang Jie, among others.