In the framework of the Industrial Policy Dialogue between the EU Commission and the Chinese Government, the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) has been chosen as a strategic partner to improve the knowledge and implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the textile and apparel production in China.

BSCI is the European common platform of retailers, industry and importing companies for monitoring and improving social standards in all supplier countries and for all consumer goods. It has been created by the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) in 2003 and has 55 members from 9 countries.

In a first step, a group of 20 high-level officials from the Chinese Government, manufacturers associations, the Chinese Labour Union and companies are touring Europe this week to meet with main European parties involved in CSR, including BSCI.

When receiving the Chinese delegation, Heinz-Dieter Koeppe, Senior Advisor at BSCI said, "The participation of BSCI is a clear recognition of both our major role in the CSR world and of our good knowledge of the Chinese textile market. Since the liberalisation of the global textile market, China has gained importance as the main supplier country for European retailers and importers. Until today, the implementation of BSCI's Code of Conduct has been audited in more than 400 factories in China. Several tailor-made awareness raising and qualification workshops have been organised in Nanjing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Moreover, the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), the organisation responsible for modernising the Chinese textile industry, has drafted the national social standard CSC9000T with direct reference to the BSCI."

During its CSR study tour in Europe this week, the Chinese delegation will have talks with diverse interlocutors to get a complete picture of Social Dialogue and CSR issues: government officials at the European and national level, trade union representatives and associations. They will also visit several European companies to see how works councils and management cooperate in these issues.

The tour will be followed by a symposium in Beijing on July 12, 2006, where international and Chinese experts will discuss the subject with representatives of the Chinese Government. BSCI will actively participate in this major event.

The final objective is to organise symposiums in various textile producing regions in China in order to increase the awareness of CSR issues of high-level managers.