Sustainable development continues to reshape global industrial landscapes. For modern businesses, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has evolved from a voluntary initiative into a strategic imperative for long-term viability and growth. As a fundamental benchmark for corporate sustainability and long-term value creation, ESG performance has emerged as a key competitive advantage, bolstering corporate financing capabilities, brand equity and supply chain resilience amid ongoing global market volatility.
A high-level symposium focused on ESG framework development and industry best practices was held on July 23 at the global headquarters of Haitian Flavouring & Food Co., Ltd. (603288.SH / 03288.HK).
Designed to explore actionable ESG strategies that drive high-quality corporate growth, the event was guided by the Foshan Municipal Financial Work Office and the Foshan Municipal Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Service Bureau. Organized by the Foshan Listed Companies Association, co-hosted by Haitian Flavouring & Food Co., Ltd. and CCXI Green Finance International Limited, and supported by the Guicheng Subdistrict Office of Nanhai District, the event convened government officials, corporate executives from listed and pre-listed enterprises, and academic researchers across the region.
Foshan has accelerated the development of a modern, upgraded industrial system throughout 2026. Guided by a three-pronged development strategy and a structured 1+7+3+3+N implementation mechanism, the city is advancing breakthrough progress across seven core industrial sectors. Prioritizing intelligent upgrading, green transition and industrial integration, Foshan is undergoing a robust transformation from a traditional manufacturing hub into a world-class smart manufacturing powerhouse.
In March 2026, Haitian secured widespread industry recognition for its outstanding ESG performance, earning the Model Enterprise of the Year award at the CCTV Annual China ESG Gala. As the first enterprise within its sector and the sole private company in Foshan to receive this prestigious honor, it ranked among only seven national recipients. The company has also achieved a remarkable four-tier upgrade in its MSCI ESG Rating over four years, climbing from B to AA and placing itself in the top tier of global food manufacturing firms. Haitian’s successful ESG integration proves that ESG investment does not constitute an operational cost or earnings drag; instead, it builds enduring core competitiveness that helps enterprises navigate economic cycles and deliver consistent long-term value.
During the symposium, Long Jinji, Secretary-General of the Foshan Listed Companies Association, outlined three major initiatives aimed at empowering local enterprises through systematic ESG development.
First, the association collaborated with CCXI Green Finance International Limited to launch the 2025 Foshan Listed Companies ESG Development Research Report in October 2025. Marking China’s first prefecture-level city-focused ESG research report, the publication delivers forward-looking, practice-oriented industry insights. It systematically analyzes the current status and emerging trends of ESG practices among Foshan-listed enterprises, highlights 11 high-quality practical case studies, and offers standardized, actionable guidance for local businesses pursuing ESG transformation.
Second, the association is advancing its 2026 ESG research and publication project in partnership with scholars from Foshan University and the University of Hong Kong. By combining rigorous academic research with frontline industrial experience, the upcoming empirical findings will be submitted to municipal authorities to support evidence-based policy formulation and targeted regional industrial upgrading.
Third, the association sustains a series of specialized ESG training and exchange programs. Through on-site inspections and in-depth thematic seminars at benchmark listed enterprises, these programs help local companies align their internal ESG governance systems with global mainstream standards. The open collaborative platforms enable extensive peer knowledge sharing, elevate overall corporate ESG management proficiency, and further optimize Foshan’s regional sustainable development ecosystem.
The symposium represents both an in-depth exchange of cutting-edge ESG theories and a practical demonstration of collaborative sustainable development among Foshan enterprises. Local industrial players have validated through tangible results that green transformation strengthens corporate competitiveness rather than imposing operational burdens, and that standardized ESG governance serves as a critical market passport for future industrial competition, rather than a restrictive regulatory barrier.
Moving forward, the Foshan Listed Companies Association will continue to expand high-quality industrial exchange platforms and organize benchmark enterprise study tours. By leveraging green transformation to unlock new growth momentum, the association will assist local enterprises in upgrading their comprehensive ESG governance capabilities, consolidate Foshan’s core manufacturing advantages, and drive sustained, high-quality regional economic development. These ongoing efforts will strongly support the city’s strategic vision of building a revitalized, high-value modern industrial system.
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