CSR promotes development | New trends in the ICT industry

 

On August 28, the 7th China’s ICT Industry CSR Annual Summit was held in Beijing, with the theme of “Remain true to original aspiration, shoulder the responsibility, undertake the mission and boost the industry”.

As an important cooperation platform and influential brand meeting in China’s ICT social responsibility field, this year’s summit was hosted by China Electronics Standardization Association (CECA) and China Electronics Standardization Institute (CESI), and co-hosted by the Committee on Social Responsibility of the Chinese Electronics Standardization Association and China Sustainability Tribune. Nearly 200 representatives from governments, enterprises, associations, international organizations and media participated in the summit.

CSR fulfillment promotes development
Guided by policies, standards and guidelines 

Fan Bin, Deputy Director of Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) delivered a keynote speech. He said that Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations of MIIT attaches great importance to the development of social responsibility in ICT industry: first, actively promoting the construction of CSR pilot and demonstration regions and industries, and comprehensively promoting social responsibility work in an all-round way; second, actively promoting the development of standards and the standardization of social responsibility work; third, deepening international cooperation and promoting the mutual exchange and recognition of social responsibility standards.

At the same time, Fan Bin put forward three requirements and expectations. Firstly, it’s necessary to profoundly understand the great significance of doing a good job in social responsibility, make the fulfillment of social responsibility as top priority, and promote development with CSR fulfillment, thus driving the sound and rapid development of the entire industry. Secondly, we should give full play to the role of social responsibility in promoting the transformation and upgrading of enterprises, serve the strategy of advanced manufacturing power and internet power, thoroughly implement the new development concept, and accelerate the pace of transformation and upgrading, providing a strong guarantee for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the goal of building those two powers. Thirdly, it’s important to actively explore new ways and means of assuming social responsibility, so that we can integrate social responsibility into corporate strategy, comprehensively analyze the impact on stakeholders and the environment, and strive to maximize the integrated value of economy, society and environment.

Zhang Hongyu, Associate Counsel of General Office of MIIT introduced the industrial standard SJ/T 11728-2018 Social Responsibility Management System of Information and Communication Technology Industry and the research background and significance of Information and Communication Technology Industry Social Responsibility Development Report.
 

SJ/T11728 Social Responsibility Management System of Information and Communication Technology Industry aims to provide an effective management tool for enterprises to operate in the global market, integrate responsibility philosophy into corporate strategy and daily management, and achieve sustainable development. Information and Communication Technology Industry Social Responsibility Development Report is based on ten issues, namely responsible governance, technological innovation and application, employee rights and interests, safety and health, resource conservation and environmental protection, etc. It comprehensively evaluates the impact of decision-making and activities in the ICT industry on economy, society and environment, and summarizes the existing problems and future improvement directions of the development of CSR in the industry which provide reference for enterprises to improve the ability and level of social responsibility governance.

CSR fulfillment brings achievements
Report release and annual evaluation

Zhong Li, Deputy Chief Engineer and Director of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) comprehensively summarized the key work of the Committee in 2018-2019 on 9 aspects including policy research, standard setting, tool development and CSR fulfillment disclosure promotion, report centrally releasing, industrial social responsibility governance evaluation, industrial exchange and promotion, industry think tank development, international cooperation as well as poverty alleviation and public welfare. Meanwhile, he hoped that ICT enterprises could thoroughly implement SJ/T 16000-2016 Guidance on Social Responsibility of Information and Communication Technology Industry and its supporting standards, continue to support and participate in the building and development of social responsibility in the industry, playing a role and make contribution to it.

ICT industry CSR reports were centrally released during the summit. Xu Hua, Director of General Office, Department of Policies, Laws and Regulations of MIIT presided over the event. 25 ICT enterprises at home and abroad issued their social responsibility reports together, including CETC, China Electronics Corporation (CEC), Alibaba Group, Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and Apple Computer Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Responsibility Value Innovation Enterprise, Outstanding CSR Professional Manager of the Year and Top 50 ICT Industry Social Responsibility Governance were announced. 15 enterprises including CETC, Canon (China) won the title of Responsibility Value Innovation Enterprise.

16 people were awarded the title of Outstanding CSR Professional Manager of the Year, including Guo Rui from CETC and Huang Chen from CEC.

50 enterprises including CETC were awarded Top 50 ICT Industry Social Responsibility Governance.

Path for CSR fulfillment
Sharing experience and enhancing cooperation

In standard international cooperation session, Tamas Hajba, Representative of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) China Office, Robert Lederer, President of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and Joyce Chau, amfori Director Asia Pacific respectively delivered keynote speeches, introducing the main work of the organization in the building of social responsibility lately and the direction of its further step in promoting standards integration and mutual recognition. 
 

In industry practice sharing session, Yin Gefei, Chief Expert of China Sustainability Tribune, introduced CSR governance evaluation situation of ICT industry; Wang Xiaoguang, Dean of Beijing Rongzhi Corporate Social Responsibility Research Institute made interpretation on SJ/T 11728-2018 Social Responsibility Management System of Information and Communication Technology Industry; Pei Pei, Global Head of Performance Materials Government and Public Affairs of Merck Group and Xue Jianmin, Strategy Innovation Director of SAP Labs China respectively introduced their companies’ social responsibility practices.

Representatives from enterprises and professional scholars from institutions including CEC, IBM Greater China, SAP, Renmin University, CCID Think Tank Politics and Law Research Institute, Southern Weekly CSR Research Center were invited to conduct multilevel discussion on how to promote “responsible digitalization”. Lin Bo, Vice Editor of China Sustainability Tribune moderated this session.

During the summit, the release of the “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Supply Chain Social Responsibility Management” and the establishment ceremony of “SME CSR Fulfillment Toolbox” project group were held. Zhong Li issued Project Secretariat plaque.