China Mobile becomes first mainland company to be selected to Dow Jones Sustainability Index

10th Sep, 2008

China Mobile Limited has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), becoming the first company from mainland China to be selected to the prestigious index.

The DJSI captures the top 10% of the biggest 2500 companies worldwide based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.

China Mobile’s selection in the index’s September 2008 review was based on a variety of criteria including climate change strategies, energy consumption, human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance.

Established in 1999, the DJSI is considered a prime reference standard for socially responsible investing.

The DJSI is made up of 320 of the world’s leading companies from 19 different ‘super’ sectors. Ten of the companies are in the telecommunications industry. Along with China Mobile, BT group and Vodafone are in this exclusive club.

Currently, there two Chinese companies on the DJSI, including Hong Kong’s mass-transit rail company MTR. China Mobile is the only company from mainland China to have ever been selected to the index.

A variety of criteria are used to assess companies that are selected to the DJSI including the company’s impact on the economy, society and environment.

China Mobile has persisted in balancing its development and growth with its social responsibility. In 2007, China Mobile published its first comprehensive social responsibility report. It detailed China Mobile’s guiding principles which are based on sincerity, honesty, humanity and respect for nature and life.

Over the last year China Mobile has instituted a socially responsible and professional management system that covers the entire company.

In China Mobile’s 2006 three-year plan the company adopted the DJSI’s appraisal system for sustainability and social responsibility to measure its own performance. At that time China Mobile set a goal of being selected to the index by 2009.

China Mobile’s selection in the 2008 review of the DJSI is an acknowledgment that the company has become a world leader in sustainable development and social responsibility. Selection to the index will be a strong motivating force for China Mobile as it continues its work in building an even greater socially responsible enterprise.