The 23rd such event, this particular China Daily CEO Roundtable focused on the visions, opportunities and challenges of sustainable development in China's 11th Five-Year Plan. Around 60 senior executives and government officials took part in the meeting, held in the Kerry Centre.

Those who participated shared their views on how to make China's rapid economic growth more friendly to the environment.

"We live in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable growth issues," said Bjorn Stigson, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), an organization representing some 190 of the world's leading corporations.

There is a strong need for awareness, and the media is playing a fundamental role, said Stigson. Issues such as biodiversity, carbon emissions, land use and energy efficiency are increasingly on the Chinese Government's agenda. Multinational corporations need to share their experiences with their Chinese colleagues and learn from each other, he said.

By Raymond Zhou

The sustainable development of China is not only an issue cared about by the government but is a common concern of China's business community.

That was according to delegates in a meeting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), held in Beijing yesterday.

It was also the latest reaction of China's business circle to Premier Wen Jiabao's recent confession that the Chinese Government failed to achieve certain environmental targets during the 10th Five Year Plan.

"Business and government sectors, together with relevant institutions and social communities, should join hands for the common goal," said Wang Jiming, Executive Chairman of the Chinese Business Council for Sustainable Development (CBCSD) and Vice-Chairman of Sinopec Corp.

Wang pointed out that as they are the backbone of China's economy, the contribution made by Chinese enterprises to this matter has a bearing on China's future.

He emphasized that Chinese enterprises, especially big ones, should incorporate sustainable development into their long-term strategies and roll out this philosophy in all walks of life.

Furthermore, the enterprises should turn the sustainable development concept into day-to-day action to try to guarantee sustainable development and our historical responsibility.

Yesterday's meeting of delegates was jointly held by WBCSD and CBCSD.

According to Chen Jinhua, chairman of China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) and China Enterprise Directors' Association, entrepreneurs have more important functions than ever.

CEC expects Chinese entrepreneurs, especially the really influential ones, to not only do a good job in their own businesses but also set an example and take a leading position in their industries. They should integrate related principles into their own development strategies, operational philosophy and corporate behaviour in order to fulfil their corporate social responsibility.

Attended by over 80 CEOs and senior executives from both the global and the Chinese business communities with a title of: Visions, Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Development in China’s 11th Five Year Plan, the 23rd CEO Roundtable provided an extremely timely dialogue on one of the most important topics for China, and for the rest of the world. Yesterday’s session put together CEOs and senior executives of the world’s largest companies such as Shell, BP, BMW, Deloitte, Bayer, Alcoa, ABB, Dow Chemical, Siemens, Sinopec, COSCO, etc. “We are very delighted to be able to put together this roundtable on such a timely topic.” Said Kang Bing, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, China Daily.

By Alexander Wan

Forthcoming CEO Roundtable Events:

March 30, 2006 CEO Seminar of Finance Industry Development of the Beijing CBD, Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong.
April 19, 2006 The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai: A Corporate Social Opportunity, Portman Ritz Carlton, Shanghai
May 11, 2006 China EU Business Partnership, Grand Hyatt, Beijing
May 31, 2006 The China Daily 25th Anniversary Gala Reception, Beijing
June 8-9, 2006 The International CEO Summit of the Yangtze River Delta Development, The Portman, Ningpo

For all enquires in how to get invitation, partnership and customized service, please email:

Alexander Wan, Executive Editor, China Daily CEO Roundtable at: alexwan@chinadaily.com.cn,
website: http://ceoroundatble.chinadaily.com.cn