7.08.2008 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON,D.C. and SHANGHAI,CHINA, - July 8, 2008 - The World Environment Center (WEC), an independent, global non-profit and non-advocacy organization whose mission is to advance sustainable development in the business strategies and operations of global companies, today announced the establishment of its newest office in Shanghai, China. Expansion of WEC into China builds upon several years of project work and other activities and will provide the platform for a growing number of new WEC initiatives in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

Leading WEC's Shanghai office will be Ms. Joanna Guo, presently President, Professional Services at the JPI Group, a China-based enterprise specializing in business planning and other services for implementing sustainable development. Ms. Guo will serve as Director of WEC’s China Operations. She has ten years of professional experience on sustainable development programs financed by international and private investors, local institutions and international development organizations. At the JPI Group level, Ms. Guo has responsibility in such areas as strategic business development, cross-border cooperation with various international affiliates, working with customers in securing project financing and communicating with a variety of investors.

"WEC's increasing initiatives in Asia recognizes the pivotal role this region plays in implementing sustainable development solutions in the private sector in partnership with national governments, multi-lateral institutions and non-governmental organizations," stated WEC's President & CEO Dr. Terry F. Yosie. "China is the right place at the right time to apply WEC’s unique approach of developing direct, on-the-ground solutions to deliver value for business and society."

"JPI is highly enthusiastic about our partnership with WEC and believes that WEC China will achieve the goal of improving global companies' environmental performance and integrating sustainable development into their longer-term mission," concluded Ms. Guo. "The JPI Group has played an active role in sustainable development and has worked closely with Chinese enterprises for twenty years."

WEC's Shanghai office expands its network of operations that presently includes its global headquarters in Washington, D.C. and regional offices in Augsburg, Germany and San Salvador, El Salvador.

About the World Environment Center: WEC is unique among global organizations in its direct application of sustainable development to the business strategies and operations of its member companies. WEC creates business solutions across the value chain of global companies, convenes leadership roundtables to shape and transfer strategic thinking across a range of sustainability issues with public and private institutions, and honours business excellence through its annual Gold Medal Award for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. For more information about WEC, please visit www.wec.org.

About the JPI Group: The JPI Group ("JPI") is one of China's leading private investment and investment advisory companies. JPI works with Chinese and international companies to improve their operational and financial performance, thereby increasing value to the stakeholders. By combining the integration of international resources with local operating skills, JPI Group has successfully leveraged its strong capabilities in maximizing local resources and relationships for the purpose of creating opportunities for international companies in China’s emerging market.

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