By Nicola Hofer, Junior Project Manager - Academic Relations

On July 16, swissnex China was delighted to welcome Dr. Jan-Alexander Posth (Senior Lecturer, ZHAW) and Allegra G. Fonda-Bonardi (Chief Officer of Research, DeTao Institute of Green Development) as part of its Science Diplomacy event series. The two speakers compared and discussed their perspectives on ESG compliant investment along China’s Belt & Road. The introduction was delivered by the Science Consul of Switzerland in China, Dr. Felix Moesner.

Dr. Posth gave a presentation entitled "The Belt & Road Initiative and its potential for an ESG revolution: A network view”. He talked from a networking perspective about the opportunities of China’s epic venture to advance Asia’s and the world’s transition to a sustainable economy. He stressed that the Belt & Road Initiative is associated with high hopes, great opportunities and enormous impacts at the global and strategic levels.

Ms. Fonda-Bonardi spoke on “Drivers of change in ESG marketplaces in China and Europe”. She stressed that ESG remains at the center of investment, public attention and even algorithmic power in both Europe and China. The presentation addressed challenges and opportunities in the information ecosystems that drive ESG’s investments in China and Europe, and proposed ways to make ESG’s information ecosystem more robust and effective in channeling capital toward corporate purpose in the short, medium, and long-term.

Following the presentations, Mirjam Haab of swissnex China led a panel discussion. The audience asked interesting questions, which were answered just as competently by the speakers.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Posth and Ms. Fonda-Bonardi for their interesting and inspiring lectures. swissnex China is looking forward to its next Science Diplomacy event.