Overseas officials learn green development at lecture

Over 30 government officials from six foreign countries and senior representatives from two international organizations, attended a lecture on the role of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in boosting climate adaption capacity in developing countries. The event took place Monday at the Yuehai Campus of Shenzhen University (SZU) in Nanshan District.

The lecture was hosted by the Institute of Area and International Communication Studies of SZU. It served as a supporting session for the “Seminar on Standardization of Enhancing Adaptability to Climate Change for Developing Countries,” a program organized by China’s Ministry of Commerce running from Oct. 14 to 27 in Chengdu and Shenzhen.  

Dai Yonghong, director of SZU’s Institute of Area and International Communication Studies, delivers the opening address.

Dai Yonghong, director of SZU’s Institute of Area and International Communication Studies, delivered the opening speech and a keynote address, presenting research on ESG policies and development strategies in Belt and Road partner countries.

In an interview with Shenzhen Daily, he emphasized that the lecture not only introduced China’s green development policies but also showcased Shenzhen’s pathway toward ecological civilization.

At the event, Chen Si, assistant professor from SZU, addressed the ESG compliance challenges and practical pathways for Chinese enterprises in the Belt and Road Initiative's critical mineral supply chains. Meanwhile, Fu Le, SZU assistant researcher, explored the role of AI in ESG management. From an enterprise perspective, Wang Yuyan, chairperson of Shenzhen Wensen New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., shared insights into green product innovation mechanisms.

Zhuang Yuanyuan, director of the international center at the Chengdu Institute of Standardization, said that as one of the organizers of the seminar event, the arrangement of the session in Shenzhen is because many participants showed an interest in the city’s development. At the same time, her organization has built close cooperation with SZU’s Institute of Area and International Communication Studies and values the institute’s related research in the ESG field.

Natanha Terblanche, a department director from the City of Tshwane in South Africa, shared her hopes of learning how to effectively implement climate-related policies in her own country. She was impressed by China’s policy implementation and looks forward to applying these insights back home.

Isa Rashed, a senior compliance expert from the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO), stressed that tackling global issues like climate change and pollution requires strong international cooperation. He praised the lecture for offering a practical framework — not just theory — on integrating sustainability into development.

“The most impressive parts were the case studies, which showed this framework in action. I believe this event is incredibly significant. We are seeing in this training how green policies can be turned into real-world actions,” Rashed said.

                                     An attendee interacts with the speaker during the lecture. 

For many attendees, it was their first time in Shenzhen. Terblanche remarked, “I see there are a lot of green areas and parks. And very impressively, for me, it's a young city. It's a city that's 40-something years old, but it's so developed.” 

Rashed also shared his impressions, noting the city’s rapid development and the effective implementation of sustainable policies. “The moment I arrived, I noticed that the entire fleet of taxis consists of new energy (electric) vehicles. This is a powerful, real-world example of the city's commitment to green development and reducing direct emissions,” he said.