On June 30, 2024, Grouphorse Group became one of the first corporate representatives to move into China’s first dedicated ESG platform—the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center. On the same day, Yu Jiang, Vice President of Tianjin Foreign Studies University (TFSU), and Tang Xing, Chairman of Grouphorse Group, jointly unveiled the “TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College Internship and Employment Base.” The ceremony was witnessed by senior officials including Shen Mi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Suzhou Industrial Park, and Wu Hong, Deputy Secretary and Director of the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee. The first board meeting of the TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College was also successfully held.

As the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concept gains momentum globally and becomes a widely recognized consensus, Suzhou—often hailed as “China’s most powerful prefecture-level city”—is moving forward with unprecedented resolve to develop a globally influential hub for industrial technology innovation. The opening of the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center on June 30, 2024, marks a solid step for Suzhou Industrial Park in advancing ESG practices and exploring new paths toward high-quality development.

Attending the opening ceremony were Shen Mi, Wu Hong, Lu Yuan, Liu Hua, Sun Yangcheng, and Zou Xiaowei. During the ceremony, China’s first ESG white paper at the level of economic development zones—the Suzhou Industrial Park ESG Development White Paper—was officially released, and work commenced on the development of the General Principles for ESG Evaluation in Economic Development Zones. The event also featured on-site signing ceremonies with nearly 20 leading ESG enterprises.

As one of the first signed and settled companies, Grouphorse Group was recognized as a “Preferred Strategic Partner of the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center.” Chairman Tang Xing represented the company at the signing ceremony, underscoring Grouphorse’s commitment to ESG. As an official United Nations supplier and a member of the UN Global Compact, Grouphorse will leverage its deep expertise and resources in the ESG field to cooperate with all parties committed to sustainable development and contribute to shaping China’s ESG vision.

TFSU Vice President Yu Jiang attended the event in person to witness this historic moment. Talent is the primary driver of progress, and the rapid development of ESG in China calls for a talent-first strategy. On May 24, 2024, TFSU and Grouphorse Group jointly established China’s first ESG college—the TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College. The milestone was immediately covered by major outlets including People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, China Daily, Chinanews.com, China National Radio, and The Paper, with Tianjin Daily, the official newspaper of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee, featuring the story prominently on its front page. The founding of the college fills a significant gap in ESG higher education in China and lays a strong foundation for spreading ESG awareness and driving its implementation nationwide. It also sets a benchmark for sustainable development education and the cultivation of ESG professionals with global perspectives and practical skills.

Following the signing ceremony, Yu Jiang and Tang Xing jointly unveiled the Internship and Employment Base for the ESG college. This platform will integrate broader industry resources, deepen partnerships with industry organizations and leading enterprises, and provide students with key internship and employment opportunities. It will also serve as a platform for collaborative innovation among academia, research, and industry.

Senior officials including Shen Mi and Wu Hong witnessed the unveiling ceremony and held discussions with Yu Jiang and Tang Xing. Secretary Shen emphasized that the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center is a vital platform for advancing ESG in Suzhou Industrial Park. He noted that the center is actively implementing green and low-carbon strategies, cultivating ESG-focused enterprises, showcasing representative cases, and building standardized systems to help position the park as a leader in sustainable development. He acknowledged the importance of developing ESG talent and welcomed students from TFSU to intern and work in Suzhou.

Other distinguished guests at the unveiling ceremony included Wang Jijun, Director of Academic Affairs at TFSU; Yang Lina, Dean of the Graduate School; Li Wei, Dean of the Honors College of Tianjin Foreign Studies University; Wen Yi and Zhang Li, Vice Presidents of Grouphorse Group; Guo Yanqing, Board Director; Qing Jiahui, Director of the ESG Service Center; and Jiang Feng, Administration Director.

After the ceremony, representatives toured both the Suzhou branch of Grouphorse Group and the Suzhou ESG Innovation Center Exhibition Hall, which featured innovative ESG projects, technological achievements, and future development plans. These exhibits demonstrated that sustainable development is the “golden key” to addressing global challenges. As they toured, Yu Jiang and Tang Xing exchanged insights on ESG trends, talent development, and emerging opportunities in the sector.

That afternoon, the first board meeting of the TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College was officially held at the center. Board members gathered with high hopes for the college’s future. The meeting, chaired by Co-Chairman Yu Jiang, reviewed the college’s early achievements and reiterated its mission in promoting ESG education. Co-Chairman Tang Xing commended the college’s innovation and social influence and shared representative ESG case studies from Grouphorse, which are expected to support the college’s high-level development.

The board then entered formal discussions on topics including development planning, faculty building, curriculum design, and public service. Board members agreed that the college should keep pace with ESG trends both domestically and internationally, continuously optimize its teaching system and faculty structure, and ensure content remains cutting-edge and practical. The board also encouraged expanded partnerships and a proactive role in offering ESG training, certification, and services to governments, enterprises, and civil society, thereby enhancing the college’s reputation and impact. The Board Constitution was unanimously approved.

As the meeting concluded, Vice President Yu Jiang expressed his gratitude for the valuable insights shared by fellow board members and laid out expectations for the college’s long-term development. He emphasized that the TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College aims to become an innovative platform that deeply integrates industry and education and fosters close collaboration between universities and enterprises. He called on all members to fulfill their roles and help build the college into “China’s West Point for ESG education”, contributing to sustainable development both nationally and globally.

Over the past 15 years, Grouphorse Group has adhered to its vision of “Facilitating Global Understanding, Promoting Harmony Between China and the World,” while actively practicing sustainability. As one of the earliest Chinese members of the UN Global Compact—ranking in the top 9% nationally—Grouphorse has been a pioneer in ESG, embedding its principles throughout its operations and earning formal recognition from the United Nations. The establishment of its presence in Suzhou marks another strategic milestone after expansions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, Changsha, Changchun (Jilin International Studies University Grouphorse Translation Industrial College), and Tianjin (TFSU Grouphorse ESG Industrial College). Grouphorse will leverage this platform—an important ESG hub and demonstration zone in China—to provide comprehensive, customized ESG solutions to local enterprises. With international standards and advanced frameworks, the company aims to enhance productivity and competitiveness, jointly exploring new models and pathways for ESG development and contributing to the global movement for sustainable progress.