(Yicai) March 20 -- [Editor's note] With the implementation of international environmental, social, and governance standards, industrial development has entered a new era.

2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the ESG concept. At this important historical juncture, the United Nations Global Compact, the Center for Asia-Pacific at China International Communications Group, and Yicai jointly launched the “ESG+20 Sustainable Development Leadership Interview Series.”

This series explores the insights, achievements, and leadership of Chinese businesses in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility through dialogues with Chinese entrepreneurs and on-site visits.

In this episode, Yicai spoke with Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of major electronics maker TCL Technology Group, who said that sustainable development is not only a principle for businesses to follow but also an inevitable requirement for global economic and social development.

Li said that through TCL and TCL Industries Holdings, the Huizhou-based parent company has established a presence in three major industries: smart terminals, semiconductor displays, and new energy photovoltaics. The company integrates energy-saving and carbon reduction throughout its entire production and operational processes, he added.

In 2024, TCL's semiconductor energy-intensive operations saved 220,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, while its CNY29.5 billion (USD4.3 billion) printed organic light-emitting diode production line project significantly reduces energy consumption compared with traditional processes, promoting lower emissions and energy savings at the source, Li noted.

The company's end products, such as air conditioners, are also designed to be as energy-efficient and low-emission as possible, he added.

Regarding technological innovation, TCL has integrated large language models into its smart manufacturing system, resulting in a direct economic benefit of CNY530 million (USD76.8 million) for the semiconductor display industry in 2024, Li pointed out.

Over the next five years, display maker TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology plans to continue achieving cost savings and efficiency improvements through artificial intelligence and other technological innovations, he said, adding that the firm invests about CNY12 billion a year in research and development and has 124,000 patents, including nearly 20,000 Patent Cooperation Treaties.

In addition, TCL has set up industrial bases in several countries, including Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, and Poland, Li noted. In the face of regulatory differences in various regions, the company adheres to the principle of "doing things according to the highest standards," consistently integrating environmental protection and integrity in its operations, he stressed.

In the context of rising global economic uncertainty, companies must continuously enhance their core capabilities to respond to external competition, Li said, noting that having clear goals is crucial. "We need to incorporate 'global leadership' into our business thinking and have the courage to set ambitious targets for ourselves to achieve them,” he noted.

Editor: Martin Kadiev