Our Director of EQ+, Valérie Hoeks, recently participated in the China Café hosted by Vereniging Nederland China VNC, where she engaged in a discussion with Lianne Baaij about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China. During the event, Valérie emphasized that successful localization in China requires a comprehensive organizational commitment that extends beyond local hiring and infrastructure. She highlighted how CSR serves as a “licence to operate” in the Chinese market and must be authentically integrated into core business strategy and communication to build trust with stakeholders, increase market visibility, and align with China’s development goals. Valérie stressed the importance of authentic localization rather than simply applying European ESG frameworks, advocating for strategies that resonate with local impact expectations and empower ground-level teams.