On June 8-9, 2023, the 18th International CSR Forum was held in Beijing, organized by GoldenBee ThinkTank and China Sustainability Tribune, co-organized by CSR Europe and Council for Better Corporate Citizenship (CBCC), and supported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

With the theme of "Responsible Competitiveness in the Chinese Path to Modernization", the Forum brought together forces from business, capital, scientific research and other fields, adhered to the professionalism and internationalization of the Forum, gathered consensus on social responsibility, and had in-depth discussion on the thinking and action of contributing to Chinese modernization.

New Consensus
Responsible competitiveness contributing to high-quality development

The year 2023 is the opening year of the comprehensive implementation of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and a key year to promote high-quality development in all aspects. In the Chinese path to modernization, for enterprises, it has become the theme of the times that how to achieve their sustainable development and contribute wisdoms and strengths to this process.

Wang Yang, Deputy Director of Bureau of Social Responsibility, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), said in his opening address that it is the new mission of the times for central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese path to modernization. Better fulfillment of social responsibility in the new journey of the new era is an important guarantee for central SOEs to strengthen the leadership of the Party and effectively play the role of strategic support for the state-owned economy.



In the opening address, Li Shaohua, Deputy Secretary-General of CAAM pointed out that facing new situation of China's shift to high-quality development, CSR has an important and far-reaching meaning. Strengthening the construction of CSR is a rightful and significant approach to promote the realization of high-quality development.



Yin Gefei, Founder and Chief Expert of GoldenBee ThinkTank presented his thoughts on "Chinese Path to Modernization and Corporate Social Responsibility with Chinese Characteristics". He addressed that Chinese modernization has raised higher expectations for Chinese enterprises to fulfill their social responsibility, and also showed the direction for the construction of CSR with Chinese characteristics. This requires enterprises to pay more attention to the inclusiveness of products and services, actively participate in rural vitalization, while putting greater emphasis on employee empowerment, partner responsibility, corporate governance, social responsibility for lives and global responsibility.



At present, the world is accelerating sustainable recovery and transformational development. CSR, as a key driver of this process, has shown a global shift from voluntary to mandatory in recent years. Representatives from Europe, Japan, the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Indonesia shared the latest progress of CSR in their respective regions.



Lorena Sorrentino, Manager of Markets & EU Team, CSR Europe, introduced that the European Union is building intensive policy frameworks and sustainability legislations through the new European Green Deal, which aims to achieve a climate neutral Europe by 2050.



Masao Seki, Chairman of Steering Committee, CBCC, demonstrated that under the guidance of "Society 5.0", Japanese enterprises are focusing on human rights due diligence, green transformation, circular economy, and nature positive.



Thomas Thomas, Chair of ISO 26000 Stakeholders Global Network (SGN) and CEO of ASEAN CSR Network presented latest progress of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and ASEAN CSR Network.



Suharman Noerman, Secretary-General of Indonesian Corporate Forum on Community/CSR Development (CFCD), CEO & Founder of CFCid Consulting, shared the current status of Indonesia's sustainable development transformation and advice for Chinese enterprises in Indonesia to fulfill their responsibilities.



Leng Bing, Member of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) illustrated the latest progress of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards, and the impacts on sustainability disclosure and management practices of Chinese enterprises.



Joseph Confino, Communications Director of Capitals Coalition addressed that after COP15, assessing and disclosing the risks, impacts and dependencies on nature of large enterprises and financial institutions is likely to become mandatory.

To help more enterprises establish a framework for action to reverse the loss of nature, the Capitals China Hub officially launched a project on collecting case studies of biodiversity management in China.

During the Forum, several sub-forums focused on current hot topics and shared the latest thinking and solutions around special topics such as "Insights into Social Responsibility Management Systems", "Building Responsible Competitiveness, Driving Chinese Path to Modernization", "Green Power Driving Low-carbon Transformation", "Industrial Development and Rural Vitalization", "Fostering Carbon Reduction Partnership in Supply Chains" and "ESG Competitiveness".

Besides, China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) released its 2022 CSR report. China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd (CNNP) released its 2022 CSR report and ESG report at this Forum.

New Partners
3 new initiators joined GoldenBee Global CSR 2030 Initiative

Chinese path to modernization and global sustainable development goals cannot be achieved without the solid actions of the majority of enterprises. At this year's Forum, a number of Chinese enterprises actively demonstrated their innovative practices in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

In the Forum, CGN, Lenovo Group and Zhonghe Group joined the "GoldenBee Global CSR 2030 Initiative" and released new topics with clear objectives and implementation paths. CGN launched the topic of "Low Carbon Pioneer Action", Lenovo Group launched the topic of "'New IT - New Nature' Technological Innovation to Empower Biodiversity Conservation" and Zhonghe Group launched the topic of "Being People-oriented, Sharing Happiness" to help sustainable development with more solid actions.

As the first Chinese initiative launched by GoldenBee to respond to the UN 2030 SDGs, the GoldenBee Global CSR 2030 Initiative is based on the key words "shared vision, responsible competition, precise practice, cross-border cooperation and shared value", aiming to build corporate responsible competitiveness and promote good relations between enterprises and society through consistent responsibility concepts and innovative actions.

So far, a total of 35 enterprises and one institution have become initiators of the GoldenBee Global CSR 2030 Initiative. These practices, which are being or will be implemented in China, will contribute to the global shift towards a sustainable development trajectory.

New Benchmarks
56 companies listed in 2023 GoldenBee CSR China Honor Roll



This Forum released the 2023 GoldenBee CSR China Honor Roll, offering a professional platform to share the innovative programs of CSR and sustainable development.

56 enterprises stood out and fully demonstrated their demonstration and leadership in fulfilling social responsibilities in terms of Impact, ESG competitiveness and Innovation, and won the honors of Leading Enterprise, Pioneering Enterprise, Carbon Peak & Neutrality Pioneer, Sustainable Product & Service, Customer Focus, Responsible Procurement, Employee Care, Strategic Public Benefit, Rural Vitalization, and awards of innovation in CSR Management, and New Nature Economy Exploration. At the same time, 9 finalists were selected.

Since the release of the GoldenBee CSR China Honor Roll in 2008, this activity has attracted more than 4,000 enterprises and organizations to participate in the search for responsible operation and sustainable development in China for more than 10 years. 487 bee-enterprises have contributed their wisdom and solutions to sustainable development as the representatives and symbols of sustainable development, and have coalesced into a collective image of responsible enterprises.