On October 19, the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference (2024), which lasted two days, was held in Shougang Park. The 2024 ESG Excellent Practice Report was released, shortlisting 31 outstanding corporate projects as excellent cases, including "Setting a Good Example for Green Development and Creating a New Model for the Circular Economy: Empowering the New Process of Green and Low-carbon Development in the Steel Industry" by the Shougang Group. Shougang Park also became the permanent venue for the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference.

Under the theme ''Empowering New Productive Forces and Creating a Sustainable Future,'' this conference was jointly organized by the China Enterprise Reformation and Development Society, China Media Group's Financial Program Center, and Shougang Group Co., Ltd. There were more than 500 representatives from government departments, central state-owned enterprises, local state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, research institutions, and news agencies, including Shao Ning, Vice Chairman of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, Weng Jieming, member of the Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, Gou Ping, member of the CPC SASAC Committee and Vice Chairman of SASAC, Fang Guanghua, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and Vice Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce, and Peng Huagang, President of the China Enterprise Reformation and Development Society and former Secretary-General of SASAC and member of the CPC SASAC Committee. Other participants included Zhao Minge, Party Secretary and Board Chairman of the Shougang Group, Qiu Yinfu, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of the Shougang Group, and Wang Shizhong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shougang Group Committee and Deputy General Manager of the Shougang Group.

At the conference, Gou Ping, Fang Guanghua, Weng Jieming, Peng Huagang, and Zhao Minge delivered speeches in which they pointed out that Shougang Park is one of the most important examples of ESG practices in China, and expressed their pleasure to come together to discuss key issues, hotspots, and difficulties in ESG.

 In his speech, Zhao Minge expressed his heartfelt gratitude to participants and all sectors of society for their concern and support for the Shougang Group's reform and development in the long run. He stated that the Shougang Group has conscientiously learned and practiced the guiding principle of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, closely followed the development requirements of new productive forces, promoted technological innovation, facilitated the combination of ESG with production and operation activities, and boosted the high-quality development of the Group. Shougang has always paid considerable attention to technological dependence and self-growth, catered to major national needs, and contributed its due part to national economic and social development. Moreover, it has always taken the green and low-carbon approach to development, and strived to play a vanguard role in implementing China's "dual carbon" strategy. It has actively put the concept of urban renewal into practice and created a new landmark of urban revitalization. Besides, it has actively joined in the integration of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei to drive integrated regional development.

Following that, Peng Huagang and Qiu Yinfu jointly inaugurated Shougang Park as the permanent venue for the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference.

Fan Jianlin, the incoming Vice President of the China Enterprise Reformation and Development Society, said that the Shougang Group is a century-old company founded in 1919 which serves as the epitome of China's steel industry and a model for the reform of industrial companies. It has experienced and witnessed the development of China's steel industry from its humble beginnings. Today, it is a vibrant example of state-owned companies in Beijing, and being selected as the permanent venue of the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference is significant to the company. While focusing on high-quality, intelligent, and green development, the Shougang Group has effectively contributed to the construction of its ESG system and in turn the high-quality development of China's steel industry.

Qiu Yinfu stated in his speech that he is grateful to all his colleagues for their trust and support, and the China Enterprise Reformation and Development Society for the selection of Shougang Park as the permanent venue for the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference. This is both an honor and a massive responsibility to him. Therefore, he proposes to continue to uphold the principles of open cooperation, mutual benefits, and win-win results, and join hands with all partners to promote innovation and development in ESG and create a better future.

Shougang has extensively implemented the concept of ESG, accrued valuable experience, and continued to improve the ESG management system and ESG governance, leaving a deep impression on the participants. The Group has also fared remarkably well in environmental conservation, social responsibility, and corporate governance. Moreover, it has taken the lead in completing the ultra-low carbon transition in the steel industry, formulating the ultra-low carbon transition plan for steel companies, responding to climate change, actively launching low-carbon campaigns, developing innovative modes, and creating a "new model" for the circular economy. Making active efforts to practice its social responsibility, it has been unremittingly integrating with urban areas, consolidating and further advancing poverty alleviation, implementing consumption-driven poverty alleviation, and stimulating rural revitalization. Shougang Park has integrated the ESG concept into its business development strategy. From a steel factory to a new landmark of urban revitalization, it has remained committed to green and low-carbon development, coordinated the advancement of urban renewal and industrial structure adjustment, as well as green and low-carbon transition and development, and achieved sustainable transformation. It has become a symbol of urban transformation in Beijing and a model for the revitalization of the world's largest industrial zone mainly carried out by a corporate entity.

On October 20, a parallel meeting on "ESG Innovation and Exploration in the Steel Industry" was hosted by the Shougang Group in Shougang Park. The participants included Zhu Guosen, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shougang Group Committee and Deputy General Manager of the Shougang Group.

It was learned that ESG China was jointly founded by the China Enterprise Reform and Development Society and CSR 100 Forum. It is a China-based international platform for communication and cooperation that focuses on sustainable development and aims to facilitate the shaping of the ESG ecosystem and motivate companies to better fulfill their social responsibilities. Since its establishment in 2021, it has held 15 major events such as the ESG China Innovation Annual Conference, project and practice case release events, city summits, salons, and company tours, and released 39 documents of research results. Over the years, there have been more than 5,000 participants from more than 1,000 companies. In the next step, ESG China will continue to serve as a platform for encouraging more regions, industries, and companies to embrace the concept of ESG, fully promote ESG practices, and better cater to China's modernization and high-quality development.