MAINZ, Germany — Against the backdrop of shared commitments to energy transition, exchange and practical cooperation between China and Europe on sustainable development are growing increasingly close and profound.  At the "Energy Applications" Subforum of the 3rd Sino-European Corporate ESG Best Practices Conference, recently held in Mainz, Germany, nearly 100 distinguished guests from various sectors convened to discuss the latest industry trends and cutting-edge energy applications. Participants expressed a unified vision to deepen bilateral collaboration in building a greener future.  

Photo: Li Dong, General Manager of ICBC Frankfurt, delivers opening remarks at the sub-forum. 

The conference received robust support from the China-Europe Corporate Alliance (CECA), with ICBC serving as the chair organization. The "Energy Application" sub-forum was hosted by ICBC Frankfurt Branch.

Delivering his opening remarks, Li Dong, General Manager of ICBC Frankfurt Branch, emphasized that among the various dimensions of ESG criteria and sustainable development, energy application holds particular importance and transformative significance. He noted that the energy transition is inextricably linked to climate targets while acting as a vital engine for industrial upgrading, technological innovation, and economic resilience.  

"The energy transition demands strengthened cross-industry, cross-sector, and cross-border cooperation. That is precisely why dialogue and pragmatic exchanges are more essential today than ever before," Li stated. 

"Forging a greener and more sustainable future is a long journey. It requires not only vision and innovation, but also sustained investment and long-term commitment," Li added. "Advancing sustainable energy application requires strong financial backing alongside technology. We provide comprehensive financial support for our clients' ESG transformations, helping them accelerate their green transition."  

The sub-forum was co-organized with substantial support from Sinopec and HiTHIUM Energy Storage. A distinguished lineup of speakers shared concrete ESG practices and outcomes from their respective operational perspectives, including: Li Zhenguang, Deputy Chief Engineer and Director of the Market Research Institute at Sinopec Economics & Development Research Institute; Wang Yule, ESG Expert at HiTHIUM Energy Storage; Norela Constantinescu, Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Centre at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Claudia Hügel, Head of ESG at Lufthansa Group; Evgeny Tyurin, Managing Director of Corporate Bank FP&A and ESG Finance at Deutsche Bank; and Xu Haiming, Director of the Qinghai Provincial Energy Administration.

Furthermore, a high-level panel discussion titled "New Paradigms in the New Energy Industry Driven by ESG and Pathways for China-Europe Cooperation " brought together prominent industry executives and financial experts, such as: James Shen, CEO of HILITE International;   Markus Pratsch, Managing Director of DZ Bank AG; Eivind Dugstad, Chief Financial Officer of Mainzer Stadtwerke;  Gustavo Balducci, General Manager of SEG Automotive; and  Christian Rückert, Head of Transformation and Strategic Development at Currenta Group.  

 The forum also marked the successful celebration of the 5th anniversary of the China-Europe Corporate Alliance. Representing the chair organization, Guo Qing, Senior Expert of the Credit Management Department at ICBC Head Office, together with Commercial Counselor Chen Yan and Frankfurt Branch leadership, presented commemorative trophies for outstanding alliance members to Germany-based corporate members, including Siemens.

Furthermore，during the event, Nestlé's ESG practice case, recommended by the Alliance, was honored with the conference's Outstanding Case Award. The award underscored the tangible achievements of the China-Europe Corporate Alliance in pushing ESG practices forward and reflected the deepening, fruitful collaboration between Chinese and European enterprises in green development.  

Initiated in April 2021 under the guidance of China's Ministry of Commerce, the China-Europe Corporate Alliance was co-founded by ICBC as chair unit alongside leading Chinese and European enterprises to build a bridge for business dialogue and mutual benefit. The Alliance now comprises 134 member institutions across 20 countries, including 50 Fortune Global 500 companies.