Global Compact Local Networks in China, Japan and Korea Adopt Declaration to Commit and Follow up on Advancing the Global Goals

(Tokyo, 23 August 2017) – The ninth Global Compact China-Japan-Korea Roundtable (CJK Roundtable), entitled Transform Our World with the SDGs - The Role of East Asia, brought together over 150 leaders from business, Government, civil society, academia and Global Compact Local Networks in Tokyo on 22 August to discuss how companies in the region can take action to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).

At this year's Roundtable participants adopted, for the first time, a declaration where Global Compact Networks from China, Japan and Korea committed to working together on conducting a survey of the business contribution to the SDGs, sharing industry-specific good practices and working on responsible sourcing to improve supply chain management.

UN Global Compact CEO and Executive Director, Lise Kingo, commended three Global Compact Networks for their vision and leadership in their long-standing collaboration, acknowledging that “the economic and social transformation needed to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will require a scale, scope and complexity never seen before”.

At the event, Toshio Arima, Member of the UN Global Compact Board and Representative Director of Global Compact Network Japan, reiterated the commitment to take practical actions to address Global Goals in Japan and throughout the world. Keynote speaker, Ms. Hiroko Kuniya, a renowned journalist in Japan, highlighted the interconnected nature of the Global Goals and challenged businesses to incorporate the SDGs into management strategies and to use the goals to not only strengthen their competitive edge but to also recognize and improve the weaknesses.

Special emphasis was placed on SDG 16 at the Roundtable specifically highlighting what role businesses, together with Governments and other partners, could play in promoting peace, justice and strong institutions. The session included a discussion on the importance of companies strengthening their own internal policies and practices, engaging in Collective Action to strengthen laws and institutions and ultimately promoting a culture of accountability and transparency.

Students from China, Japan and Korea were featured as participants during Youth Program of the event where they debated on issues such as gender quotas on corporate management boards and paid paternity leave. The students’ ideas and solutions challenged the business participants, creating a space of inspiration and future thinking.

The CJK Roundtable is an annual platform – convened since 2009 by Global Compact Local Networks in the three countries – to foster mutual understanding, collaboration, learning and dialogue. The 10th CJK Roundtable will be held in Seoul.

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• See CJK Roundtable event agenda

• REad the 9th CJK Roundtable Declaration

• Learn more about the Global Compact Local Networks

• Learn more about the Siemens Integrity Initiative