China Water Affairs Won the Excellent ESG Enterprise Award of 2021-2022

 (8 November 2022, Hong Kong) China Water Affairs Group Limited (“China Water Affairs” or the “Company”; stock code: 0855.HK) is pleased to announce that the Company was presented the “Excellent ESG Enterprise Award of 2021-2022” by the Hong Kong Economic Times, which fully reflects the Company's persistent efforts to fulfill the corporate social responsibilities, including active development of premier tap water and pipeline direct drinking water services to drive high-quality urban development as well as the multi-pronged approach to achieving the "dual carbon" goals, have been widely recognized by the market.

The "–Excellent ESG Recognition Scheme" was organized by the Hong Kong Economic Times in recognition of the listed companies with outstanding performance in environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas which produced positive impacts, as well as the banks and financial institutions which made continuing efforts to promote green finance and effectively integrated ESG elements in the process of investment decision-making.

China Water Affairs is always committed to the “Water-oriented, Kindness to Society” philosophy. Driven by this philosophy, it has actively promoted the ESG over the years. Its excellent ESG performance has been highly appraised by the capital markets and the Company has thus gained numerous awards, including the ESG rating of BBB from the world's largest ESG index provider MSCI, the “Water Resilience Award” from the Asian Development Bank, the "Best Infrastructure and Public Utility Company” at the Golden Hong Kong Stocks Award and the "Sustainable Development Efficiency Award” at the Caijing Evergreen Award. As for the Company’s financing, it has formulated a green finance framework and engaged Sustainalytics, a leading independent ESG research and rating agency, to provide  second-party opinion on the green finance framework. Under this green finance framework, the Company successfully issued US$350 million green bonds.

Looking ahead, Mr. Duan Chuan Liang, Chairman of China Water Affairs, said, “The Company will continue to actively promote the ESG. In terms of environment, it will actively carry out the ‛Outline of the Group’s Implementation Plan for Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality’. It will achieve these goals through five areas: the increasing use of clean energy, the vigorous promotion of development of high-quality tap water and pipeline direct drinking water, the building of green factories the enhancement of resource utilization and the greater efforts in publicity and education. In terms of social responsibilities, the Company will strengthen its brand of "China Water Affairs, Nourishing Thousands of Families with Love", seeking to blend its service brand well into the community services, and form a community participation mechanism with the unique features of China Water Affairs. In terms of corporate governance, the four-tier ESG governance structure will be further adjusted and improved, and risk identification and management will be strengthened to protect the rights and interests of shareholders and other stakeholders.”

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About China Water Affairs Group Limited

A leading market-oriented, professional, international, and cross region water supply operator in China and the only Hong Kong listed water company focusing on tap water. Headquartered in Hong Kong. Operation management centers in Beijing and Shenzhen. The main business of the Group (including associated companies) is to operate urban water supply, pipeline direct drinking water, sewage treatment and drainage and other related value-added services in the Mainland of China. Covering around 30 million people in over 100 cities in 20 provinces and 3 municipal cities. Total daily capacity: over 20 million m³, and the Group has established a leading position in the overall business operation mode in China’s water affairs market. Management comprises of veteran experts in the water industry with insight into government policies. Included in the first batch of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect by HKEX in 2016. Included in the FTSE Environmental Opportunities Asia Pacific Index since 2009.

This press release is issued by PRChina Limited on behalf of China Water Affairs Group Limited.

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