CRI听力:Lack of Public Involvement in Auto Company CSR Activities

If you ask anyone who came to check out the on-going Guangzhou Auto Show whether they have heard about or participated in any corporate social responsibility activities held by auto companies, these are the answers you'll most likely hear.

"Which aspect do you refer to? That couldn't ring any bell, sorry."

"No I've never heard about it, nor participated in any."

"I've never participated in any, but I've heard about it. I just hope they could run more of these activities."

"I know something about it, but only on the surface."

These answers may not be surprising to Li Hongpeng with Beijing Mercedez-Benz Sales Company. Li's company has introduced to China "Mobile Kids", which is originally a German initiative aimed at raising awareness of driving safety for children. In the program, children take part in community or online classes and are educated about safety issues while riding a car with their parents. Li says they brought in the program just in the hope of involving more participants.

"In terms of the auto industry, China is moving from an underdeveloped market to a developed one. Many people have just bought their first car. We introduced the Mobile Kids initiative just because we see the lack of participation by the public in corporate responsibility activities."

Among the few attendants to the Auto Show who do know or experienced a bit about corporate social responsibility, some argue that the common concept of relating the term only to donation or charity events is hindering its access to a wider range of participants.

"Donation is just one kind of corporate social responsibility activity. It is more important that these activities could spur on the initiatives by all kinds of people."

"Creating more jobs for society is also one thing an enterprise should look after when its business has expanded to a certain degree."

In Li Hongpeng's experience of carrying out corporate social responsibility activities, the Chinese public used to believe the term is only about actions from companies. Yet he says giving out to society is something that everyone could contribute to and not necessarily by money.

"It is not related to how much fortune you own. What matters is not how much money you give out, but rather what your enthusiasm could bring to our society and whether your contribution could bring positive energy to the society."

Li added that introducing corporate social responsibility initiatives on mobile social networks is an effective way to get more people involved.