(Editor: Yang Linlin).- The event brought together government agencies, international organizations, leading businesses, chambers of commerce, and think tanks to explore how sustainable development could open new avenues for cooperation between China and Central Asia. Meanwhile, a casebook titled "ESG in Action across Central Asia: Outstanding Practice Cases" was also released at the event.
· Full text: ESG in Action across Central Asia: Outstanding Practice Cases
Su Yu, minister-counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Kazakhstan, noted that more than 10,000 Chinese-funded companies are registered in Kazakhstan. These companies operate in compliance with local laws and regulations and take an active role in fulfilling their social responsibilities.
According to Su, the cases released at the event illustrate how ESG has become a shared development principle in the deeper cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.
Ji Lei, vice president of China Economic Information Service (CEIS), said nearly 60 cases had been submitted since the initiative of collecting the cases was launched in March this year. The submissions came from all five Central Asian countries and covered sectors ranging from energy and agriculture to infrastructure and finance.
Representing the expert review panel, Zafar Makhmudov, former executive director of Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), explained how the submissions had been assessed before officially launching the casebook.
The casebook includes 13 cases that show how companies across Central Asia are translating sustainable development theories into practical action. The approaches in the cases are both replicable and adaptable elsewhere in the region.
"What makes the collection of cases released today particularly valuable is that it presents real ESG practices that have already proved successful in Central Asia," said Meerim Kozhokmatova, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyrgyzstan.
"These are not simply theories. They are practical experiences that could inspire new cross-border initiatives and lay the groundwork for long-term regional cooperation," she added.
Another highlight of the event was a discussion on how ESG strategies can generate lasting commercial returns rather than serving solely as a source of brand value.
Zhang Jianyu, deputy secretary-general and chief development officer of the BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC), and Assel Nurakhmetova, director of the Carbon Platform at the Astana International Financial Center, participated in the discussion.
The event was co-hosted by the CEIS, an affiliate of Xinhua News Agency, and the BRIGC, organized by the China General Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, and supported by KPMG Kazakhstan. (Contributed by Zhang Jiye, Bao Nuomin)
Please see the attachment for the full text of the casebook in both Chinese and English versions.