Int'l experts hail China's role in securing global supply chains

China has played a critical role in facilitating the smooth operation and stability of global industrial supply chains, according to experts attending the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which is running from Tuesday to Saturday.

Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the expo, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), will see the participation of more than 600 companies, up about 20 percent from the first expo in 2023, according to the CCPIT.

Foreign exhibitors will account for 32 percent of the total, compared with 26 percent a year earlier. U.S. companies will contribute the largest share of overseas participation, while the number of businesses from Europe and Japan has also increased significantly this year.

Speaking with China Media Group (CMG) on the sidelines of the event, experts from Britain and United States said China has played a key role in the global supply chain.

"I think China will remain a critically important part of global supply chains. I think that is clear. China now has very, very strong clusters of capabilities in different industries, particularly important, of course, in certain new areas of technology, renewable energy, carbon transition," said Sebastian Wood, the vice chairman of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

"In China (they) have built manufacturing and supply chains here, and so China continues to be an important sourcing market for U.S. companies. China continues to be an important part of the overall supply chain for U.S. companies. So the supply chain expo is to both celebrate that and continue to look into more details about how those can be enhanced," said Michael Hart, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

At the opening ceremony of the expo on Tuesday, a "Beijing Initiative" was released to promote international cooperation in industrial and supply chains. The initiative proposes to fully tap the potential for cooperation in the fields of digital economy and cross-border e-commerce, accelerate the exploration of industrial applications of artificial intelligence technology, establish an inclusive digital economic ecosystem, and further empower the upgrade of the industrial chain and supply chain. It calls for efforts to accelerate green-tech innovation and the promotion and application of advanced clean technology solutions to promote the green transition of the industrial chain.

Int'l experts hail China's role in securing global supply chains

China hosted the 15th International Agricultural Trade Policy Conference in Beijing on Monday, with the aim of enhancing global cooperation, sharing governance experiences, and injecting momentum into building a secure, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural trade system.

At the conference, over 300 participants discussed topics such as digitalization, green transformation, and inclusive growth in agriculture.

The event also highlighted opportunities for affordable and advanced Chinese farming equipment in Africa.

"What we have seen with Chinese equipment; it's more advanced; it's more modern, but it's still more affordable. Because issue of affordability to African and South African farmers is quite critical. So we are hope for greater cooperation, either in the distribution of your machinery or local assembly of some of your equipment which you have produced over the recent years," said Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, South African Ambassador to China.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China will take pragmatic measures to help Africa increase agricultural production capacity, including that for grain crops, assist Africa in securing food security and agricultural modernization at an early date, and strive to promote trade value in agricultural products to more than 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2033.

Beijing hosts 15th Int'l Agricultural Trade Policy Conference