aced with a series of global problems such as resource shortages, environmental degradation, and global warming, the concept of low-carbon green development has flourished around the world, and the pursuit of sustainable development has become a consensus of mankind. At present, whether it is a local enterprise or a foreign-funded enterprise, green development has gradually become a weather vane for enterprises to assume social responsibility. General Secretary Xi Jinping also emphasized in the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that it is necessary to fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, adhere to the direction of socialist market economic reform, adhere to high-level opening up to the outside world, and accelerate the construction of a new development pattern with the domestic big cycle as the main body and the domestic and international double cycles promoting each other.

On November 7, at the 2022 Foreign-funded Enterprise Integration into the Double Cycle Summit Forum, one of the important supporting activities of the Fifth China International Import Expo, the "2022 Foreign-funded Enterprise ESG and "Dual Carbon" Strategic Development Research Report" was officially released. The "Report" shows that in the context of China's efforts to promote the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure and the green transformation of enterprises, foreign-funded enterprises have gradually become an important tool for China to achieve the "dual carbon" goal. To help China achieve the "dual carbon" goal, more and more foreign-funded enterprises are gradually integrating ESG into all aspects of the company's production, operation and management. At the policy level, the report suggests that the ESG information disclosure framework and system of enterprises should be improved, an ESG evaluation index system with Chinese characteristics should be constructed, a coordinated operation mechanism of the ESG ecosystem of foreign-funded enterprises should be established, and the implementation of ESG practices of foreign-funded enterprises should be promoted step by step and focused, so as to comprehensively enhance the systematic understanding of ESG by market players.

However, for foreign-funded enterprises in China, the development of ESG at this stage still has both opportunities and challenges. The report points out that the ESG concept has gradually become a global consensus, domestic policies support the development of ESG, ESG is becoming a new rule of the capital market, and the domestic ESG market is relatively vacant, which are the main opportunities facing foreign-funded enterprises. However, the obstacles to the development of ESG in China need to be resolved. The cognitive problems of ESG concepts, the adaptability of building an ESG ecosystem, the balance between short-term investment and long-term development, and the external interference problems in the process of practicing ESG are the main challenges facing foreign-funded enterprises.

In order to continuously improve the institutional system construction of ESG development of foreign-invested enterprises and consolidate the institutional foundation of ESG development of foreign-invested enterprises, the "Report" recommends that, first, a sound framework system of corporate ESG information disclosure standards and ESG information disclosure system be established; second, an ESG evaluation index system with Chinese characteristics be constructed; third, institutional organization construction be strengthened, and a coordinated operation mechanism of the ESG ecosystem of foreign-invested enterprises be established; fourth, the implementation of ESG practices of foreign-invested enterprises be promoted step by step and with focus; and fifth, the systematic cognition of market entities on ESG be comprehensively improved.

Green and low-carbon development is not only the trend, but also the general trend. Improving ESG performance and helping to achieve the "dual carbon" goals have changed from a "plus point" for enterprises to assume social responsibility to a "must have" for sustainable operation and steady development. As important participants and practitioners of ESG, foreign-invested enterprises will help to better implement the new development concept, help achieve the "dual carbon" goals through various channels, and promote sustainable economic and social development.