Liu Meng: Chinese Companies Expanding Overseas Need to Upgrade to Sustainable Competitiveness

On October 30, 2026, at the 2026 ESG Sustainable Development Value Ecosystem Forum hosted by CLS, Liu Meng, China Representative of the United Nations Global Compact, said that Chinese companies expanding overseas are at a critical point in the shift from “product competitiveness” to “sustainability competitiveness,” and need to integrate ESG principles into their globalization strategies and localized operations.

This view broadens the scope of attention for companies expanding overseas beyond the products themselves to the way they operate: in addition to considering how to enter overseas markets, companies also need to think about how to reflect the principles of sustainable development in their global strategies and local operations. In other words, ESG is not just a standalone issue; it may also be connected to companies’ strategic planning and day-to-day operations.

For companies expanding overseas, it is worth considering how to put this principle into practice in specific business areas. For example, they can incorporate sustainability factors into decision-making when planning overseas business, and consider relevant arrangements in light of actual operating conditions when conducting localized operations. Since business models and operating environments vary among companies, implementation approaches will also differ.

At present, this statement offers a perspective on the direction of companies expanding overseas; it does not mean that a uniform implementation path has already been proposed. Its specific impact on business operations remains to be seen as these principles are translated into concrete action.