This year marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) introducing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) and the 10th anniversary of Fosun joining the UNGC. On February 28th, the first stop of the "Visit to Members of the United Nations Global Compact" tour took place at Fosun's headquarters in Shanghai. Over 70 experts from corporations, academic institutions, and the United Nations system gathered at the BFC Bund Financial Center to discuss how to co-create a sustainable future through responsible business innovation and practices.
Ms. Liu Meng, the Asia-Pacific Regional Representative of the United Nations Global Compact, stated in her opening remarks: "2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the UNGC's introduction of the ESG concept. At this historical moment, we have launched the ESG+20 series of initiatives, to revisit the original intent behind ESG, to connect and unite businesses across countries, and to create a new platform for innovation and collaboration that will inject new energy into the global economic recovery and sustainable development. I am pleased that today's event, 'Visit to Members of the United Nations Global Compact—Witnessing the Sustainable Development Achievements of 100 Chinese Companies', is the first initiative of the ESG+20 series. As one of the largest economies in the world, China is playing a significant role in the field of sustainable development. In the future, we hope to see an increasing number of companies join the United Nations Global Compact and work together towards the global goals for sustainable development, actively showcasing their efforts and progress in sustainable development to the world."
Mr. Zhu Wenkui, Vice President and Chief Strategy Empowerment Officer of Fosun International, representing the event's hosting company, delivered a welcome speech: "As a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, Fosun supports the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and continuously strives to integrate them closely with Fosun's ESG strategy. As entrepreneurs, we bear the important mission of driving social progress and achieving economic prosperity. We are well aware that enterprises are not only drivers of the economy but also participants in social progress. While pursuing economic benefits, we always uphold a strong sense of social responsibility, committed to making positive contributions to society, the environment, and the economy."
Professor Wang Zhile, former Director of the Research Center for Transnational Corporations at the Ministry of Commerce's Research Institute and a member of the Expert Group on the Tenth Principle of the United Nations Global Compact, shared his research achievements and practical experience in the field of sustainable development, focusing on strengthening compliance management to advance ESG practices. He explained in a straightforward manner the relationship between ESG, the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, and the high-quality development of China and Chinese enterprises. He believes that practicing ESG should be integrated into the construction of corporate compliance management systems, aligning with the recent domestic trend of strengthening compliance management and aligning with international norms. His proposed theoretical framework and practical methods for sustainable development sparked widespread interest and discussion among the participants.
During lunch, Liu Ben, the Gender Equality Goals Corporate Accelerator Coordinator from the United Nations Global Compact, led a session for corporate representatives on "Gender-Inclusive Language." Through interactive discussions and analysis of real-life cases, the participants learned how to use inclusive and respectful expressions and communication methods in both written and oral interactions with internal and external stakeholders involved in business operations. This session aimed to help companies integrate a gender perspective into their daily work and communication.
During the corporate visit and interactive exchange session, Zhang Yifei, Vice Chief Strategy Empowerment Officer, General Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department, and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Fosun Public Welfare Foundation, introduced the development history of Fosun in the field of corporate social responsibility to the corporate representatives. He discussed the "Rural Doctor" project as a case study, sharing how the company actively fulfills its social responsibilities while achieving economic benefits, making positive contributions to public health and regional development. Following this, the corporate representatives actively discussed the expansion possibilities of "business empowerment" type sustainable development innovations, sharing the development history and unique experiences of their respective companies in the field of social responsibility.
After the meeting, the corporate representatives expressed that the visit not only provided valuable references and insights but also inspired deeper reflection and action on the ten principles of the Global Compact. It ignited sparks of conversation and thought among peers.
"The visit to the member companies of the United Nations Global Compact is not just a simple visit but also provides an important international platform for in-depth exchanges of thoughts and mutual growth among peers and across industries," remarked the head of sustainable development from one of the invited companies after participating in the event. "Through case sharing and face-to-face discussions, where industry challenges were openly addressed, we enhanced our understanding of the field of sustainable development and deepened our knowledge of it, injecting new momentum into future cooperation and development," said a representative of the participating companies.
The smooth conduct of this event marks a successful start to the "Visit to Members of the United Nations Global Compact" series. The United Nations Global Compact looks forward to using this new platform to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between companies, and to mobilize more Chinese and international enterprises to make active contributions to achieving sustainable development goals.