2017 Integral Conversation reimagines new approaches for the health of humans and the planet

The interdependence of the fate of humans and the planet underpins the need for people to pursue healthier and more sustainable lifestyles for their long-term well-being, experts said at the 2017 Integral Conversation successfully held in Guilin, China.

The annual conference was convened between November 9 and 11 under the theme “Reimagining Health: Fostering the Health of the Planet and People”. Hundreds of globally prominent business leaders, influential scholars and policymakers had a thorough conversation on the global imperative of tackling environmental and human health challenges.

“The challenges arising from climate change and wealth gaps could be addressed together, which has long been the goal of Esquel. The health of humans and the planet must move forward side by side,” said Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group. She also introduced the “Esquel Carpool”, a mobile app developed by the company that has helped reduce over 40 tons of carbon emission.

Cello soloist Jian Wang shared stories and special moments along his musical journey. He said classical music could offer a more comprehensive view towards life.

In her opening remarks, Teresa Yang, Vice Chairman of Esquel Group, emphasized that development and environment could live in harmony. The key was whether we were willing to change our mindset and explore new models of development in the face of the changing environment. This is exactly why the Group launched the Integral Conversation in the first place.

Xinhong Fan, Deputy Mayor of Guilin, shared his thoughts on Guilin’s development of sustainable industries during his welcoming remarks. He hoped that Integral Conversation, an international conference which brings together knowledge and support from a wide range of fields, as well as encourages in-depth research, could be held in Guilin going forward. He highlighted his firm belief that Guilin could achieve comprehensive development on respecting the environment, mankind and neighborhoods with the support of the concept behind Integral Conversation.

At the opening keynote ‘Dealing with a Changing Environment: Consequences of Technology and Globalization’, Zhiwu Chen, Director of the Asia Global Institute and the Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics at the University of Hong Kong analyzed the impact of technology advancement and globalization on the environment and neighborhoods, with an illustration of his hometown Chaling County. Noting the uneven economic and social development of different communities and regions, he believed that the government could play a bigger role in distributing opportunities and resources.

Established in 2014 by Esquel Group, a leading global textile and apparel manufacturer, the 2017 Integral Conversation continues to provide a platform for discussing how economic progress can proceed in harmony with the environment and society.

• The corporate plenary on ‘How Corporations Coexist with the Environment’ was moderated by Hau Lee, Professor of Stanford Graduate School of Business and Chairman of Sustainability Council of Esquel Group. Speakers shared insights of how their enterprises implemented sustainable development, as well as explored a series of environmental protection issues that were relevant to the enterprise ecosystem. For example, how should corporate leaders achieve sustainable development for enterprise ecosystems and manage consumer expectation on the sustainability practices of enterprises. The speakers were Douglas Tong Hsu, Chairman & CEO, Far Eastern Group; Ning Li, Founder and Executive Chairman, Li-Ning Company Limited; and Yusuke Saraya, President, Saraya Group.

• York Liao and freelance writer Jesse Wong together hosted the luncheon panel on Yellow Earth Fund: A Story of Sharing Development Dividends. Each of them shared a story: one on how to improve small communities and the residents through infrastructure, and the other on a failed and irresponsible large-scale development project.

• Timothy Tong, President, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, hosted the panel on “Health of the Planet and City: Responsible Urbanization”. Speakers discussed how to achieve sustainable development against the backdrop of global urbanization, through planning to enhance living quality in cities. Examples of how different countries cope with rapid urban expansion were brought up, concluding that long-term vision and planning are crucial for responsible urbanization. The speakers were Yung Ho Chang, Principal and Architect, Atelier Feichang Jianzhu, Professor and Former Head, MIT Architecture Department; Zhi Lü, Professor of Conservation Biology, Peking University, Founder, Shan Shui Conservation Center; and Khee Giap Tan, Co-Director, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Chairman, Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation.

• The “Health of the People: Building Preparedness to Respond to Social Transformation” panel was hosted by Xudong Yin, Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals (APMA Region), and President, Novartis Group (China). The dynamic session focused on antibiotic resistance and social transformation, as well as the current status of human epidemics. The discussion addressed how population-wide abuse of antibiotics has disrupted the natural balance of ecosystems, resulting in the proliferation of superbugs that may pose a disastrous threat to human health in the following decades. Experts hoped to raise public awareness on the relationship between eco-balance and human health via this dialogue. Speakers of this panel include Sheng Chen, Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Hengpeng Zhu, Deputy Director, Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

• Geoff Yang, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Redpoint Ventures hosted the panel on “Changing the World with Innovation and Technology”. The interactive session discussed how different industries could leverage technological innovation to shape the future in the digital age. For instance, artificial intelligence companies helped improve medical efficiency through collecting and analyzing a huge amount of data, where startups used technology and creative ideas to upcycle polluted plastic items. Not only does artificial intelligence help boost productivity, but it also contributes to wastage reduction and environmental improvement. Speakers on the panel included: Jenny Gu, Deputy General Manager, WeWork Greater China; Tak Lo, Managing Partner, Zeroth; Victor Mao, Chairman, ShuKun Technology; and Miranda Wang, Chief Executive Officer, BioCellection.

In the closing remarks for the 2017 Integral Conversation, John Cheh, Vice Chairman & CEO, Esquel Group, shared the latest progress of Integral. Located at Jiumeiqiao, Guilin, Integral incorporated its innovation concept to merge the production facilities with Guilin’s natural scenery, demonstrating a new development model for the textile industry.

“At this year’s conference, we talked about the pressing issues threatening the health of the planet and humans, and how we can work together to achieve sustainability and enhance human well-being. As Yoko Ono once said, a dream you dream together is reality. I look forward to joining the next Integral Conversation with all of our distinguished guests, where we can fill another special page in the beautiful book of Guilin,” John Cheh said.

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The Integral Conversation conference brings together experts from a wide range of fields to explore a more holistic approach to sustainable development. The aim is to inspire enterprises, community leaders, policymakers and individuals to take action in harmony to balance all aspects of life. The dialogue will take place in Guilin, a city known for its well-preserved stunning landscape and waters. This location will provide a backdrop for the meaningful dialogues while allowing us to reflect on the future of sustainable development.

Each year, more than 300 experts from the public, private and academic sectors attended the annual events. The first Integral Conversation was successfully held on November 18-19, 2014 in Guilin, China, in an effort to explore the next development model for China. The second Integral Conversation was held on November 5-7, 2015, and explored how holistic approaches to such basics as clothing, food, urban living and mobility can contribute to sustainable development. Last year’s event, held on November 17-19, looked into solutions to issues arising from increasing connectivity in the region.

In 2011, Esquel Group acquired the Guilin Yinhai Textile Group, which has a company history of 53 years, and established Guilin Esquel Textiles Co. Ltd. The Esquel Group is now developing its “Integral” in Guilin. With an investment of CNY 2 billion, the Group aims to build an eco-tourism industrial park in Guilin’s beautiful natural surroundings. Incorporated with the concept of “ten suchnesses”, this significant new industrial base in Guilin will demonstrate a new development model for the textile industry that is human- and ecology-oriented.

Founded in 1978, Esquel Group is a global textile and apparel manufacturer with a vertically-integrated supply chain that straddles from cotton to retailing. Esquel employs a 57,000 multinational workforce, with manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and merchandising offices servicing markets worldwide. Esquel manufactures over 100 million pieces of garments annually for leading brands including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike.

Long an advocate in innovation, environmental protection and corporate social responsibility, Esquel aspires to make a difference in the textile and apparel industry and contribute to the well-being of a wider community.

For more details, please click 2017 Integral Conversation.

Media contact:

Mokka Mok
mmok2@webershandwick.com (852) 2533 9971

Joyce Lam
jlam@webershandwick.com (852) 2533 9911

The 2017 Integral Conversation kicked off with a toasting ceremony on the stage.

 

Marjorie Yang, Chairman of Esquel Group, welcomed the guests and shared the story of an Esquel developed app “Carpool”, a car sharing app.

 

Cello soloist Jian Wang shared stories and special moments along his musical journey.

 

Teresa Yang, Vice Chairman of Esquel Group, set the tone for 2017 Integral Conversation in her welcoming remarks.

 

Xinhong Fan, Deputy Mayor of Guilin delivered welcoming remarks.

 

At the opening keynote ‘Dealing with a Changing Environment: Consequences of Technology and Globalization’, Zhiwu Chen, Director of the Asia Global Institute (AGI) and the Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics at the University of Hong Kong, analyzed the impact of technology advancement and globalization on the environment and neighborhoods.

 

[From Left] The corporate plenary on ‘How Corporations Coexist with the Environment’ was moderated by Hau Lee, Professor of Stanford Graduate School of Business and Chairman of Sustainability Council of Esquel Group. The speakers were Douglas Tong Hsu, Chairman & CEO, Far Eastern Group; Ning Li, Founder and Executive Chairman, Li-Ning Company Limited; and Yusuke Saraya, President, Saraya Group.

 

[From Left] Timothy Tong, President, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, hosted the panel on “Health of the Planet and City: Responsible Urbanization”. The speakers were Khee Giap Tan, Co-Director, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Chairman, Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation; Zhi Lü, Professor of Conservation Biology, Peking University, Founder, Shan Shui Conservation Center; and Yung Ho Chang, Principal and Architect, Atelier Feichang Jianzhu, Professor and Former Head, MIT Architecture Department.

 

[From Right] York Liao and freelance writer Jesse Wong together hosted the luncheon panel on Yellow Earth Fund: A Story of Sharing Development Dividends.

 

[From Left] The “Health of the People: Building Preparedness to Respond to Social Transformation” panel was hosted by Xudong Yin, Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals (APMA Region), and President, Novartis Group (China). Speakers of this panel include Sheng Chen, Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Hengpeng Zhu, Deputy Director, Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

 

[From Left] Geoff Yang, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Redpoint Ventures hosted the panel on “Changing the World with Innovation and Technology”. Speakers on the panel included: Jenny Gu, Deputy General Manager, WeWork Greater China; Tak Lo, Managing Partner, Zeroth; Victor Mao, Chairman, ShuKun Technology; and Miranda Wang, Chief Executive Officer, BioCellection.

 

John Cheh, Vice Chairman & CEO of Esquel Group, presented the closing remarks for 2017 Integral Conversation.

 

Hosted by Esquel Group, 2017 Integral Conversation comes to a successful end with more than 300 international experts joining the event.