AmCham Shanghai CSR Conference Explores Innovative Ways to Engage Key Stakeholders

SHANGHAI, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) held its 7th annual CSR Conference at the Renaissance Zhongshan Park Hotel in Shanghai on November 9, 2011. This year's conference focused on exploring new approaches to building strong partnership with governments, NGOs and other stakeholders and examined pioneering CSR initiatives, including corporate social innovation and using social media tools to engage stakeholders.  

Themed CSR Innovation: New ways to Engage Key Stakeholders, the conference hosted seasoned CSR practitioners from corporations and NGOs and government officials overseeing CSR activities. Senior executives from Intel, GE, Dow Chemical, Walt Disney, Abbott and United Way spoke at the panel discussions.  

"AmCham Shanghai and our members are committed to responsible business practices globally and in China," said Eric Musser, chairman of AmCham Shanghai. "AmCham Shanghai has long been at the forefront of CSR practices in China and in our support of U.S. businesses as they strive to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.  More direct engagement with a company's stakeholders is the next step."

The CSR conference is also a platform for sharing best practices. General Electric (GE) China issued the 2010 GE China Sustainability Report at the conference that details GE's CSR strategies and practice with an objective to support a sustainable economy in China through its day-to-day business operations.

Mark Hutchinson, GE Greater China President & CEO, said, "Our contribution to society is fundamentally how we do business. Our framework for this is to make money, make it ethically and make a difference. China is no exception. We have gone beyond complying with to local rules to applying global standards to all aspects of our operation in China. We are also listening hard and learning about how to meet rising expectations of multinational companies in China and to achieve alignment of GE's goals with that of the Chinese society."

Intel China highlighted its corporate social innovation strategy, a four-pillar strategy to contribute to an innovation economy by catalyzing systemic change in economic, social and environmental progress in China.

Jun Ge, managing director of Intel China, said, "Intel aims beyond business success. Corporate social responsibility has become an integral part of our overall business strategy.  Intel strives to play a leading and catalyzing role in advancing social innovation through a systemic and comprehensive approach."

The half-day conference drew 120 attendees, most of whom are senior executives, CSR practitioners from both domestic and foreign companies, Chinese government officials and professionals from leading NGOs.

About AmCham Shanghai

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, known as the "Voice of American Business" in China, is the largest and fastest growing American Chamber in the Asia Pacific region.  Founded in 1915, AmCham Shanghai was the third American Chamber established outside the United States. 

As a non-profit, non-partisan business organization, AmCham Shanghai is committed to the principles of free trade, open markets, private enterprise and the unrestricted flow of information.

Visit www.amcham-shanghai.org for more information about AmCham Shanghai.

General Electric

GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified infrastructure and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aviation and power generation to financial services, healthcare solutions, oil and gas and rail, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. GE started doing business in China in 1906.  Now all GE businesses have set up operations in China with over 50 wholly owned entities and joint ventures in manufacturing, service and R&D.  GE employs 15,000 people in China. The company's advance technologies and solutions are helping some of the key industries of China to realize sustainable development, include: clean energy, aviation, healthcare and rail, etc. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com and www.ge.com/cn.  

Intel

Intel is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. This decade Intel will create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth.

"To grow together and innovate to transform" is Intel commitment in China. Under the industry transformation driven by the personalized Internet, Intel is joining hands with its industry partners to take advantage of the new opportunities. As a good corporate citizen, Intel is fulfilling its social responsibilities and working together with all related parties to support the construction of innovative nation by driving social innovation towards an innovative social ecosystem.

Intel China's social innovation strategy is a 4-pillar strategy to contribute to innovation economy by catalyzing systemic change in economic, social and environmental progress in China. Intel strives to cultivate the next generation innovators, to enable a vibrant and strong non-profit ecosystem for China's inclusive growth, to contribute to China's sustainable development through ecosystem enabling and to contribute to a healthy IPR environment to spur innovation.  Intel's vision and leadership has been playing a vital role, and their systemic approach to CSR also offers a blue print to follow.   

Visit www.intel.com/cn for more information about Intel China.

SOURCE The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai