As China enters a new phase of high-quality economic and social development, ESG has become a key indicator for measuring how enterprises implement the new development philosophy—innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing. ESG is increasingly integrated into corporate daily operations and has become a driving force for sustainable growth. On July 10, the review meeting for the group standard titled Specification on ESG Training for Enhancing Corporate Competency, co-hosted by the China Association for the Promotion of International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CAPC) and its Standards Committee, and organized by Grouphorse Group, was successfully held at the ESG Industrial Innovation Center in Suzhou Industrial Park.

The meeting was chaired by Ren Shuang, Deputy Secretary-General of the CAPC Standards Committee. Attendees included Wang Xianfeng, Secretary-General of the Committee; Tang Xing, Chairman and President of Grouphorse Group; and other distinguished guests. A panel of experts was specially invited to conduct a technical review of the standard, with the goal of enhancing corporate ESG competencies and contributing to green transformation and the development of a low-carbon, circular, and eco-friendly society. The expert panel included Wu Ying, ESG expert from the Xinhuanet ESG Project Team; Zhou Fang, Senior Engineer at the Tongji Consulting Center for Urban-Rural Ecological Development; Pan Liang, Director at Colliers China; Ding Liebin, former Senior Engineer at the Hubei Institute of Standardization and Quality; and Lv Xin, Senior Partner at Yingke Law Firm Global Headquarters.

Representatives from Shanghai Grouphorse Translation Co., Ltd., Beijing Grouphorse Translation Co., Ltd., Shanghai Services Federation, TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College, and Zhongqi Governance (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. also attended the meeting and discussed new approaches to enhancing corporate ESG capacity.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Tang Xing emphasized that standards are not only a guarantee of quality, but also a key driver of business innovation, industrial upgrading, and competitiveness. He noted that although ESG standards have proliferated alongside the rapid growth of the ESG sector, specific standards for ESG training remain scarce. This gap hinders enterprises from deepening their understanding and practice of ESG talent development, and also affects public awareness of sustainability. By leading the drafting of this standard, Grouphorse aims to fill this gap, promote the standardization of ESG training, raise overall industry competency, and contribute to green transformation and sustainable development.

Wang Xianfeng, Secretary-General of the CAPC Standards Committee, shared insights into the development and global practices of ESG, elaborating on ESG-related policies and regulatory trends in China and abroad. He pointed out that China’s ESG standardization efforts are taking shape and that strong ESG governance is increasingly seen as a core element of corporate management. As an essential component of implementing policy and building a high-standard market system, ESG standardization plays a critical role in establishing sound ESG evaluation systems and supporting the achievement of China’s dual carbon goals. By establishing unified ESG standards and guidelines, enterprises can be guided to focus more closely on key issues such as environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance. At the same time, these standards provide a clear framework for ESG implementation, enabling companies to carry out ESG efforts in a structured and accountable way—thereby promoting sustainable development and strengthening their overall ESG competencies.

Wang Zhe from the CAPC Standards Department provided a detailed briefing on the background, structure, drafting principles, and core content of the Specification on ESG Training for Enhancing Corporate Competency to the expert panel and participating organizations. 

After hearing the report, the expert panel conducted a comprehensive review of the standard, focusing on the scope, normative references, terms and definitions, basic requirements, training preparation, and training content. The panel concluded that the standard is grounded in existing industry technical indicators and requirements, and follows the principles of comprehensiveness and systematization. It provides clear guidance for enterprises to carry out standardized ESG training programs aimed at improving their overall ESG competencies. The standard enables companies to more systematically assess their ESG performance and take timely actions for improvement.

The experts also noted that the standard draws on international best practices and has been adapted to align with China’s national context. Once officially released and implemented, it is expected to serve as a reference framework for developing ESG training systems across various industries. It will help enterprises build ESG competencies in a more scientific and structured manner, thereby contributing to enhanced corporate performance and advancing China’s broader sustainable development goals.

Building corporate ESG competency is an essential pathway for long-term development and shared prosperity. The Specification on ESG Training for Enhancing Corporate Competency, reviewed during this meeting, represents the first ESG training-related group standard initiated by a tenant enterprise since the opening of China’s first dedicated ESG platform—the Suzhou ESG Industrial Innovation Center. It will also help drive progress in industry cultivation, ecosystem development, and platform building—contributing to sustainable growth across the Yangtze River Delta and beyond.

Moving forward, the Standards Committee of CAPC will actively promote and implement the Specification on ESG Training for Enhancing Corporate Competency through a series of outreach and training initiatives. These efforts aim to further improve ESG competency training for Chinese enterprises, support continuous capacity development, and foster sustainable and harmonious relationships between businesses and society.