"CSR is moving from the backroom to the boardroom in China," said Lord Tim Clement-Jones, partner of DLA Piper, at a Symposium on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) hosted by the firm on Tuesday.

At the conference, which took place in the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010, some 20 speakers from the government, academic institutions, business communities and non-government organisations (NGOs) discussed the political and legal developments in promoting CSR in China. Many of them expect companies to play a key role in cultivating a more conscientious society in China under the soon to be released Charity Law.

"As we are on the cusp of the new China Charity Law being released, we believe both foreign and local corporations in China need to prioritise this discussion as part of their business strategy and operations in this vitally important world market," said Lord Clement-Jones. "This is an era where comprehensive development will replace individual enrichment for entrepreneurs; and sustainable strategy will replace conspicuous consumption in companies."

The conference attracted over 100 senior representatives from industry including representatives from Pilkingtons, Unilever, Goldman Sachs, Tesco, Standard Chartered, Barclays Capital, and several state-owned enterprises, as well as over 30 government approved NGOs. ALB

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