Promote social responsibility of overseas Chinese textile enterprises

The Annual Conference on Social Responsibility of Chinese Textile and Apparel Industry (CTAI) and the 10th Anniversary Event for Social Responsibility Practice of China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) was held in Beijing on Dec 10, 2015.

The conference themed "pioneering in a decade and innovating for the future" aimed to summarize the social responsibility practice of CTAI in the past decade (2005-2015), promote green manufacturing, achieve "ecological civilization" construction and the sustainable development of a global textile supply chain, enhance communications between interested parties and an overview of the development roadmap of CATI over the next decade.

During the 13th Five Year Plan (2016-2020), the CATI is confronted with new development opportunities in the cultivation of incentives, expansion of development space, promotion of innovation levels and the building of a new industry system. At present, the recovery of developed-market economies is slow and the consumption demands of emerging economies need other outlets. The CATI should optimize the investment and trade structure, stabilize the market shares in developed countries and explore the market space of burgeoning economies.

Meanwhile, the "Belt and Road" initiative, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei synergetic development, and the Yangtze River Economic Zone creates better conditions for CATI to go abroad, which facilitates and improves CATI's international competitive advantage. The CATI will speed up the internationalization of industrial distribution and establish a global chain. Nevertheless, it is also urgent for CATI to strengthen social risk consciousness and responsibility consciousness.

The "going abroad" strategy of the Chinese textile industry is faced with huge differences in terms of statutory rules, commercial environments as well as culture. This could generate a series of risks including labor relations, human rights, environment, corruption and commercial bribery concerns. With the formulation of various kinds of regional and multilateral trade regulations, the mandatory requirement for corporate social responsibility has become a trend.

The "going abroad" strategy of the Chinese textile industry will stick to the principle of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, abiding by the local laws, respecting local customs, fulfilling social responsibilities and becoming a well-known Chinese brand that 'walks the talk'.

As a national organization, CNTAC expressed its willingness to collect and analyze the social responsibility requirements of China's major trade partners and their investment in countries where Chinese companies are operating. The organization will formulate guidelines and specifications, encourage enterprises to improve overseas management and control, while monitoring corporate social responsibilities in an effort to enhance and ensure the sustainable development of Chinese companies operating overseas.