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Author	Ms WENQI TONG
Organisation/Institution	East China University of Political Science and Law
Country	CHINA
Panel	Energy Law
Title	Environmental Compliance Challenges and Legal Strategies for Chinese Enterprises in Africa under the ESG Framework
Abstract	As the continent with the largest number of developing countries, Africa is the second-largest growing economy after Asia. Chinese enterprises going to Africa is in line with China's strategy of joining hands with the ‘Global South’ for common development, and it is also the optimal path for the growth of Chinese and African enterprises. Africa has become an important market for Chinese enterprises seeking new growth points, but energy-intensive resource-based investments conflict with the increasingly stringent local environmental legal system. African countries have strengthened the protection of environmental rights through constitutional amendments, individual legislation and regional policies, requiring foreign investment projects to implement environmental impact assessments and comply with ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) standards. In the field of international investment, environmental compliance is not only a core concern of African governments but also a key for Chinese companies to gain an advantage in bidding for projects. Energy, public procurement and mining laws in several countries make environmental protection a prerequisite for contract performance, and non-compliance can result in hefty fines or license revocation. However, the risk of environmental disputes is exacerbated by the limitations of China-Africa bilateral investment treaties, which lag, and the reliance on international arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism.
Biography	My name is TONG Wenqi, 26 years old. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in international law at East China University of Political Science and Law, with a demonstrated proficiency in both French and English. I have a substantial academic background, which includes a year of study abroad at the University of Orléans in France(2023-2024). My research experience encompasses mining, public procurement and energy law, with a particular focus on the legal systems of Africa. I have independently translated mining laws from Morocco and Chad and contributed to the formulation of compliance guidelines for Djibouti and Guinea. Furthermore, I have published an article on "legal knowledge for contract work in Algeria" in the journal China Investment. My doctoral research is currently focused on a study of the energy legal system in French-speaking African countries. Additionally, I completed an internship for 6 months at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council (CAETP), where I worked on projects related to Sino-African tourism and healthcare. My expertise in legal translation, analysis, and research has well-equipped me for a career in international law, academia, or cross-cultural legal consultancy.