Anchor: With a fast developing economy and an improving investment environment, China has attracted many multinational corporations to come and do business in China over the past three decades. As many of these corporations have reaped huge rewards in China, they have also taken various steps to give back to Chinese society. Even when many of them are still trying to combat the global financial crisis, many multinationals have pledged to keep their corporate presence felt in China. Our reporter XYee has the story.

Reporter:
Around 60 multinational corporations in China gathered in Beijing on Friday to attend a high-level forum, where they recalled their ongoing experiences since the country's reform and opening up policies were implemented. Among them, 60 outstanding multinationals were awarded prizes for their contribution to the country. These companies include Motorola, Panasonic and Unilever. They have not only witnessed China's economic progress over the past few years, but have also been actively involved in it.

Gao Ruibin, the CEO of 'Motorola China', says that Motorola has enjoyed a 'win-win' situation with China.

"Motorola has achieved sound growth since China's reform and opening up began. It's because China has opened itself to the world that Motorola has had a chance to come and do business here. Meanwhile, Motorola has brought to China advanced communication technologies. It's really been significant for us to be a part of China's incredible growth."

With a huge market of 1.3 billion consumers, China is also now helping harbour many multinational corporations from the harsh global financial crisis. In the same way, representatives at the forum say they will stick to their corporate social responsibilities, which they believe are essential to ensure their companies' sustainable development.

Johnny Kwan is Senior Vice President of the German-based Chemical Company BASF:

"We truly believe that while we are progressing with the economic development, we must continue to be responsible to our environment, and also to our society. So this comes hand in hand with our economic development. With the continuous long-term development of China and our commitment in China, we believe that it is our obligation and in any way, we do the three things together: economic development, environmental protection, and also the corporate social responsibility."

Johnny Kwan said that BASF will remain loyal to its social responsibility, even under the current financial crisis.

"The financial crisis is a short-term phenomenon. In BASF, we take corporate social responsibility as a very important long-term goal, and this should not be affected by short-term financial turbulence."

Thierry Delmarcelle, President of the U.S-based Monitor Group, even stressed that by fulfilling their corporate social responsibility they could emerge better off from this current financial crisis.

"As we think of the current financial crisis and its impact on our business, we also think that the sustainability in CSR is an increasingly important topic for companies to grow out of the crisis, and to work on this difficult time. Companies have now realized that there's actually a lot of money that can be made in the area of sustainability, and to some extent CSR, and providing benefits to society, providing benefits to the environment are not especially in conflict with being successful in the market place. But actually, they can be very nicely complementary."

The 60 multinational corporations were awarded prizes at the forum because they are recognized as contributing to the healthy development of China's economy, changing the lifestyles of many and, most importantly, fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities.

XYee, CRI News.