2014-15 Canada-China Business Forum Magazine | Page 78
BACKGROUND
Trade between Canada and China continues to grow rapidly.
While large companies have the resources to navigate their
way around the issues of doing business in China, small and
medium-sized enterprises can find the complexities
overwhelming. The whole subject of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) and how to meet the specific company’s
ethical objectives in a substantially different business
culture and environment has prevented many potential
exporters from developing this promising market.
Corporate Social
Responsibility
The following pages have been developed by the CCBC to help
potential Canadian exporters to China find useful resources
and to ask the right questions of their potential partners
or suppliers in China. CSR has been broadly interpreted
to include issues surrounding bribery and corruption.
CSR initiatives are generally defined as the voluntary
activities undertaken by a company, above and beyond
regulation, to operate in an economically, socially
and environmentally sustainable manner.
There are growing expectations that companies abide by globally
accepted CSR principles and practices, such as ISO 26000.
This is no different in China. CSR expectations in China have
grown dramatically in the past decade, but adherence to certain
CSR principles and practices in China can be challenging.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This guide is intended to highlight key aspects of CSR that
companies should consider with regards to their business in
China, and to provide tips on how to address these key aspects.
This is not an exhaustive list or detailed guide, but rather a
series of questions and considerations that companies need
to think about in order to achieve CSR-related objectives
that will allow them to meet stakeholder expectations.
This guide will refer you to the different resources available
to help you better understand the history of CSR in China;
the regulatory framework for CSR requirements in China;
how to develop an appropriate CSR strategy in China;
international guidelines for CSR and best practices for
implementing and reporting on CSR strategies in China.
A list of useful CSR resources is included in the appendix.
vm/ iStock Images
A CCBC Guide
for Canadians Investing
in China
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CANADA CHINA
FORUM
BUSINESS
2014-2015 ccbc.com
It i s also important to fully understand the UN Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises, the IFC Environmental and
Social Performance Standards, ISO 26000:2010 (Social
Responsibility) and the Global Reporting Initiative.
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