Yang Xiaoping, vice-president of the Thai conglomerate Chia Tai Group, shows the business license of his Shenzhen company's joint venture at a forum reflecting on China's 30 years of reform and opening up in Boao, Hainan province on April 13, 2008. [Xinhua]

Developing nations have remained manufacturing hubs for developed countries for more than three decades. But people in these fast-growing developing countries continue to suffer from environmental woes, lack of resources and low pay.

Should the foreign enterprises, which contract out manufacturing jobs to the developing Asian nations, fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) across borders?

This question seemed unpopular at a panel discussion of Boao Forum for Asia. Entrepreneurs and CSR researchers remained silent when a member of the audience posed the query.

Xiang Feng, public affairs director of UPS China, who raised the question, later told China Daily his concerns.

"It's an important factor when defining the boundaries of CSR," Xiang said.