Event Roundup: 31st Sino-European CSR Roundtable Forum

by amfori created 2024-12-27T11:18:14+07:00
The 31st Sino-European CSR Roundtable Forum, co-organised by amfori and China Sustainability Tribune, was held successfully on 26 November 2024 in Beijing. With the theme “The Influence and Trend of Green Policies on Supply Chains”, the forum discussed the impact of green policies, regulations and standards on the global supply chain, and shared the latest policy interpretation on the recently concluded COP29 in Baku. Over 280 thousand participants attended the forum physically and virtually.

Opening the forum, Ms Linda Kromjong, President of amfori, highlighted the common understanding of Europe and China in promoting global green policies for more sustainable and transparent supply chains. Referencing key frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) by the EU, she emphasized their critical role in shaping transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across supply chains.

In his keynote address, Mr Chai Qimin, Director of the Strategic Planning Department at the National Climate Strategy Center, delved into the outcomes of COP29 in Baku and identified net zero emission to be an important new rule for global industrial investment in energy markets, capital flows and international trade. He added that carbon footprint would be one of the critical systems in the supply chain.

Mr Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of Management Accounting at AICPA & CIMA, presented a comprehensive overview of global frameworks such as ISSB standards, CSRD, CSDDD, Carbon’s Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) alongside China’s Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Standards. He stressed the importance of AI in boosting ESG in the coming future.

Ms Liu Yifang, Director of the Sustainability Standards Research Center at the Central University of Finance and Economics, provided a detailed analysis of the European Green Dea. She noted that Chinese companies entering the EU market to proactively pay attention to manage compliance costs and mitigate potential security risks.

The Forum also featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Mr Yu Zhihong, President and Editor-in-Chief of the China Sustainability Tribune, where experts shared practical strategies to navigate green policies and foster collaboration across supply chains. The pale of speakers include Mr Feng Xiangzhao, researcher at the China Center for Information Industry Development, Ms Coco Liu, CSR and Sustainability Head for Philips China, Ms Sabrina Zhang, CEO of Smartesg, and Mr Aaron Peng, Partner at SynTao Consulting. The discussion explored topics such as tailored approaches to green policies, the importance of digitalisation in enhancing data accuracy and efficiency, and pilot programmes as a pathway to align business practices with evolving sustainability standards.

Concluding the Forum, Ms Linda Kromjong reflected on its 16-year legacy of Sino-European CSR Roundtable Forum, and together everyone can strive towards the same goal regardless of the background, countries and industries. Mr Yu Zhihong echoed the Forum’s consistent focus on supply chain management with its professionalism, pragmatism, and ability to anticipate global trends.

Supporting Organisations:

  • China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC)
  • China Electronics Standardization Association – CSR Committee (CESA – CSR)
  • Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)

The recording of the event can be viewed here in English and here in Chinese.

Highlights of the event can be viewed here.

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