A bird's-eye view of Nantong. [Photo provided by Xu Congjun to en.nantong.gov.cn]

Over 20 representatives from multinational companies and business associations such as Germany's Siemens and Business Sweden visited Nantong in Jiangsu province on May 29 to explore cooperation opportunities in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) fields.

Local government officials highlighted Nantong's industrial development, green energy advantages, business-friendly environment, and socio-economic achievements, extending an invitation to both domestic and international companies to invest in the city.

During the keynote session, executives from SKF Group, a Swedish bearing manufacturer, US-based Rockwell Automation, and Business Sweden delivered insightful speeches on ESG practices, the green transformation of industrial chains, and the global expansion of Chinese enterprises.

In thematic discussions and project matchmaking sessions, multinational and local enterprises exchanged views on topics such as green innovation development in the Yangtze River Delta region and collaboration between multinationals and local specialized, innovative enterprises.

Several multinational representatives said the event provided them with a deeper understanding of Nantong's green energy resources and its capabilities to support ESG development. They showed continued interest in the city's growth opportunities and a proactive stance toward collaboration.

Additionally, participants visited Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, to tour local benchmark green manufacturing enterprises, further solidifying the foundation for future cooperation.