The kick-off meeting and seminar on ESG Management and Information Disclosure Practice (second version)

On March 8, the kick-off meeting and seminar on ESG Management and Information Disclosure Practice (second version) was held in Beijing.

Hosted by Ms. Lin Bo, Vice President of GoldenBee (Beijing) Management Consulting Co., Ltd., the meeting gathered academic and business representatives from Central University of Finance and Economics, Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries, China Mobile, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to discuss the ESG management methods and preparation plan of the second version of the book, ESG Management and Information Disclosure Practice.

In the meeting, Ms. Lin Bo introduced the four targets of the second edition of ESG Management and Information Disclosure Practice.

❶   Spreading the latest information: sharing the newest theories and practices of ESG management in China and even the world.

❷   Providing practical tools: providing ESG information disclosure and management plans by focusing on solving practical problems for ESG managers  

❸   Developing a communication platform: promoting exchanges and communication of ESG management and information disclosure

❹   Building an innovative communication channel: spreading excellent cases of ESG management and information disclosure

Targeting the “the status of ESG management and information disclosure”, Mr. Zhou Weizhong, professor of Business School of Central University of Finance and Economics, Mr. Jiang Guoliang, Chief Representative of Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries Beijing Representative Office, Mr. Cheng Fengchao, Director of ICBC, gave keynote speeches on promoting ESG and corporate governance.

Prof. Zhou Weizhong from Business School of Central University of Finance

Professor Zhou said that ESG information disclosure currently has critical issues such as “More emphasis on operation but less on research; more emphasis on publishing but less on effect, and inadequate input with single form”. Information disclosure is the carrier of communication between enterprises and society. Enterprises need to consider the unidirectionality and object diversity of information disclosure. As the characteristics and demands of marketing and information disclosure continue to change, companies need to update their disclosure methods.

Mr. Jiang Guoliang, Chief Representative of Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries Beijing Representative Office

Mr. Jiang Guoliang introduced the governance system and framwork of listed companies in Hong Kong.He explained the new trends of corporate governance in Hong Kong, and interpreted the main amendments to the Corporate Governance Code and the new measures of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Besides sharing the reform and innovation initiatives of Hong Kong companies’ corporate governance, Mr. Jiang also hoped the measures can be a reference for corporate governance in the mainland.

Mr. Cheng Fengchao, Director of ICBC

Mr. Cheng Fengchao shared the corporate governance practice of ICBC in his speech. He pointed out that ESG management has great value and development potential for enterprises, and CSR should meet the comprehensive needs of stakeholders. In the CSR practices of ICBC, the strategy is the wind vane and the navigator. And the board of directors should be a multi-disciplinary, professional and independent organization according to the corporate strategy. Only when board of directors doing their work well, can we control the corporate development and ensure the transparent and standardized operation of corporate governance.

In addition, the attendees discussed the practical issues of ESG management such as “how companies can make ESG information disclosure interesting” and “how ESG information disclosure can influence more audiences”. The attendees also provided many professional suggestions on the revision of ESG Management and Information Disclosure Practice.