On June 18, the “2024 Shanghai Forum on Digital-Green Collaborative Development and Seminar on Green Supply Chain Management for Export Enterprises” was held at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Attendees included: Wang Yi, Deputy Director of the Information Research Institute, SASS; Zhang Min, Deputy Director of the Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization Department, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; Wang Zhen, former Vice President and Research Fellow of SASS; Lin Liping, First-level Researcher of the Shanghai Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League; Qin Hongbo, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Energy Efficiency Center; and Min Guoquan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Computer Software Technology Development Center.  Our CEO Mr. Qu Weifengwas invited to attend the event and delivered a keynote speech.

At the seminar, as Chairman of the Leverage Sustainable Development Committee, Chief ESG Researcher at the Shanghai Modern City Internationalization Science Research Center, and Expert Committee Member of the ESG Professional Committee of the All-China Environment Federation, Mr. Qu analyzed the impact on the development of related fields in his speech. He addressed topics ranging from the current status of sustainable supply chain management for enterprises involved in foreign business to policies concerning the EU's power battery industry.

At the seminar, Mr. Qu began by outlining the current landscape of sustainable supply chain management, emphasizing the critical importance of integrating "human rights/social responsibility with environmental protection"—that is, ESG management—within global supply chains. He pointed out that China, as the world's largest market where various supply chain social responsibility and sustainability codes and initiatives are implemented, has not yet established a globally influential system for promoting such codes or initiatives. However, Chinese enterprises have accumulated many exemplary practices in this field and possess a distinct latecomer advantage. We have both the confidence and the determination that China can, in the near future, construct standards and codes with global influence.

Following this, he delved into the challenges facing sustainable supply chain management. These include increasingly stringent environmental policies such as emission standards, carbon pricing mechanisms, and carbon border adjustment mechanisms like CBAM, as well as the inherent complexity of managing automotive industry supply chains. He specifically highlighted several internationally prevalent sustainability standards, such as the NQC Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire used in the automotive industry, which applies to suppliers at all tiers within the global automotive supply chain.

In the section on responses and recommendations, Mr. Qu proposed multiple strategies. These included actively supporting the development of China's automotive supply chain, increasing investment in scientific research and innovation, enhancing product quality and service levels, and building a strong, positive brand image for China. He also stressed the importance of telling China's story well using international language and methodologies, and the necessity of actively participating in international negotiations, arbitration, and litigation to safeguard Chinese interests.

Concluding his speech, he called on governmental authorities to provide timely guidance and impetus. This involves promoting the establishment of unified and mutually recognized initiatives, codes, and standards in key industries, and fostering international cooperation and mutual recognition of standards. He further emphasized the importance of encouraging and supporting the growth of China's third-party service institutions to enhance their service capabilities and global competitiveness. Finally, he underscored the need to actively engage in cooperation and exchange with international sustainable supply chain organizations to influence and encourage the participation of both international supply chain leaders and their suppliers.