Inclusiveness,innovation,green and elegance: Start with Cityplus

Shenzhen, as a young city with a history of only 40 years, deeply rooted the concept of sustainable development in the construction of “Shenzhen Efficiency” and “Shenzhen Speed”.HSBC, as a leader in the banking industry, also insists on sustainable development as a part of its strategy and taking into practice.

2019 HSBC's "CityPlus Future Star University Sustainable Development Theme Winter Camp" brings elites from various universities together in Shenzhen, which aims to warm up HSBC's business competition and raise awareness of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. 

Let us use this tweet to find out how the campers spent this wonderful first day.

The campers in the Southern Part came to the Huaqiang North Branch of HSBC firstly. The staffs from HSBC and the Shenzhen International Exchange and Cooperation Foundation delivered a speech. Then, Professor Liu Junguo, the deputy dean of the Environment college of Southern University of Science and Technology, gave an academic lecture. Finally, the special guest Rhodes Scholarship winner in 2019 Luo Jiaxin shared it for campers.

Firstly, Yang Xi ,as a director of HSBC, mentioned that the purpose of this winter camp is to warm up the HSBC Business Case Competition and then she shared the views on the competition. She said that competition is not about pursuing results, but correcting self-recognition in the process and eliminating inertia.

Secondly, Director Yang mentioned that HSBC’s strategy for sustainable development is based on that how to make the whole environment better in the long-term process during rapid development, and to create the historical value of current economic production activities, instead of being limited to pursue economic interests. Finally, Director Yang gave a brief introduction to HSBC's practice in sustainable development. They prefer partners with higher social responsibility, or make sustainable development in the later operations of partners. It is such a remarkable vision that has made HSBC a long-lasting development in more than 150 years.

The Shenzhen International Exchange and Cooperation Foundation briefly introduced everyone on the establishment and the foundation, and then explained that the purpose of “CityPlus” is to make it easier for people to understand the city. He also hoped that campers can make suggestions for their international exchange affairs.

After his introduction to CityPlus, there was followed by the first expert with respect at this winter camp, professor Liu Junguo, who is the chairman of the college of Environment in the Southern University of Science and Technology, also served as chairman of the Beijing Society for Ecological Restoration. 

He gave an academic lecture for participants. At the beginning of the lecture, Dean Liu took many shocking ecological cases examples, using graphs and data to tell us the fact that lakes are shrinking; wetlands are dying; and water tables are falling at an unprecedented rate. This serious degradation of the global eco-system has raised up ecological restoration to the first goal of development. In conclusion, he stressed that the welfare of human well-beings must be based on ecologically sustainable development.

The last of the guests was a special guest—Zhao Jiaxin, who is the Rod Scholarship winner in 2019. He was about to pursue a dual degree in Oxford University. He has worked in multi-field intern, been an all-horse runner, Sichuan Tibetan line rider and debating enthusiasts ...This young man bears the whole world in mind and his eyes are full of firmness and starlight beyond age. In his sharing, he talked the value of protecting the environment and the balance of stakeholders to give corporate social responsibility, which made college students know how to think as a builder. After that, he introduced his personal experience. Since his junior year, he has found his strong interest in energy sustainable development and been determined to devoted in this area.

During the Q&A session, Professor Liu's answer to the question of ecological and economic conflicts was that we need necessary transformation. Under the system from the upper to the bottom in China, it is necessary to guide the local managers correctly. 

In the case of Taihu Lake management, Ni Huan added that under the premise of strict government supervision, environmental experts should also measure a reasonable sewage capacity according to the actual situation.

Environmental science is a big issue, the vision needs to be put in the long run, and we need the combination of interdisciplinary team and management skills,

Cityplus,an intercity socialization network initiated by the city of Shenzhen,serves a global community of network cities, enabling cities and organizations to connect, communicate and cooperate with each other, promoting information exchange and programs for economics, transactions, humanities, science and education, etc. Follow us and explore Shenzhen with CityPlus.

With CityPlus map, we arrived at our first destination: International Trade Centre Building, where Shenzhen speed-‘1 floor every 3 days’ was created. It was the tallest building in Shenzhen at that time, because of which the surrounding area was called International Trade Centre Business Circle. And compliance with the game rules,we also visited the Shenzhen Dongmen Pedestrian Street where the stores provide people with affordable and economical goods, benefitting people in wide range. The introduction of stores also adds new vitality to traditional architectures, which fully demonstrates the inclusiveness of Shenzhen. 

Huaqiang North

Our second destination: Huaqiang North. It is the first electronic street in China. Since the early 1990s,with the rapid development of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen’s priority has changed from early contract manufacturing to medium-term securities, finance, transactions, business service, housing and supporting services. And later, to trade in electronic products that gradually became a main characteristic of this comprehensive city business community. Nowadays, Huaqiang North become the synonym of innovation and dynamic.

华强北——中国电子第一街

Lianhuashan Park

As our third destination, Lianhuashan Park, named after the 7 hills that embrace each other resembling lotus flowers in full bloom, takes co-existence and co-residence as its concept and explores the harmonious relationship between human and nature. Wandering in the park , we found many classified garbage dustbins. What’s more, a stone stele, on which ‘Environmentally friendly little angel’ is carved, is put at the kite square. Additionally, here we were fortunate to appreciate the beautiful bright purple flowers-Bougainvillea ,the City Flower of Shenzhen. They can grow everywhere both in the rural areas and city streets. When these flowers bloom and the red bracts are displayed, people will be attracted by their exuberant vitality .Bougainvillea are gorgeous, reflecting the infinite vitality and elegance of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen Concert Hall

Our trip ended up in Shenzhen Concert Hall, an important symbolic cultural architecture in Shenzhen. Its style is elegant and unique, showing the spirit of tolerance and diversity. With the five colors,yellow, red, green, white and black decorating the exterior wall, the Hall contains the concept of symbolizing Chinese traditional five elements, fully syncretizing the culture of East and West. Here, you can enjoy a really good time wherever you come from.

Explore, and get to know this inclusive and dynamic city by yourself!

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