The issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has retained its appeal even in a China in economic crisis. One of the lessons of the financial crisis seems to be that corporate social responsibility will be even more important in future. This is reflected in two international conferences within a few days which took the role of CSR in times of crisis as their main theme.

On 5 June the 4th International CSR Forum was held in Beijing on the topic of ‘Economic Crisis and CSR’, attended by over 300 international and Chinese representatives of the private sector, civil society, research and the media. The conference participants, including representatives from the USA and Japan, shared the conviction that CSR has developed new global vigour in the context of the crisis.

The conference organisers included Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, in cooperation with the China WTO Tribune and the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS). In a ceremony at the conference, selected Chinese companies were recognised for their commitment to CSR.

A few days later, on 17 June, similar issues were discussed by 100 Chinese and international participants in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang, as part of the campaign ‘Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together’. The conference, organised by GTZ in cooperation with the Shenyang Economic Commission, also gave participants an opportunity to get acquainted with companies with outstanding CSR programmes on a tour around Shenyang.

The conferences looked at the latest trends in CSR, both globally and in China, and the challenges associated with the international financial and economic crisis. In parallel, they also considered how far companies should respond to the Chinese Government’s call to improve their CSR performance in times of crisis.
 
CSR is generally understood as a concept under which companies accept responsibility for social and economic needs. In China, CSR is regarded as a central instrument for achieving the goal of a harmonious society. The process is being supported by a project to promote CSR in China which is being jointly developed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and implemented by GTZ.