'Decoupling' rejected by cross-border companies at China supply chain expo

International companies at the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) warned that efforts to break supply chains between major world markets, termed "decoupling," could have devastating effects on global trade and the course of globalization.

The second CISCE opened in Beijing on Tuesday, bringing together 620 companies and institutions from around the world to showcase their products, technologies and solutions.

At the expo, many cross-border enterprises were seen recruiting partners, demonstrating their belief in building up global supply chains. They emphasized that decoupling and breaking ties with China are simply unfeasible, and they are unwilling to pursue such paths.

"Without a strong multilateral system underpinning that, we can end up in fragmentation. That will cause some complications in the way which globalization will continue. But the wholesale rewiring of the world, which decoupling implies is even seen by those who were proposing originally as too hard and too difficult to actually pull off," said John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce.

"Decoupling is definitely detrimental to globalization. But we are fighting. It proves that everybody needs each other. So, you cannot confine to your own resources, depend on your own businesses," said Rahamtalla M. Osman, permanent representative of the African Union (AU) to China.

Many global firms at the expo are moving toward further investment in China, in stark contrast to calls to back away. U.S. company GE Healthcare, which collaborates with ten major suppliers, noted that its network in China is expanding, with over 1,000 suppliers in the circle.

"Since we attended the first CISCE, we've invested 380 million yuan (about 52.4 million U.S. dollars) in Shanghai and 500 million yuan (about 69 million U.S. dollars) in Tianjin. Our factories in China are fully integrated into global supply chains and production systems," said Zhang Yihao, President and CEO of GE Healthcare China.

'Decoupling' rejected by cross-border companies at China supply chain expo

The construction and development of rural roads and the rural transport system, which emphasizes inclusiveness and equity, provide strong support for the comprehensive development of China's rural economy and society, according to a white paper issued Friday by China's State Council Information Office.

In creating a path to prosperity for rural people, China has taken extraordinary steps and made an enormous effort to expedite the development of rural transport in poor areas, said the white paper titled "China's Rural Roads in the New Era."

Since 2014, more than 1.4 million kilometers of rural roads have been built or upgraded in previously poor areas, all towns, townships and administrative villages where conditions allow had been connected to paved roads by 2019, and all such villages had been connected to bus services by 2020, the white paper noted.

"The roads are better. After years of effort, we have established a rural transportation infrastructure network that connects villages and towns, as well as a rural transportation service system focused on inclusiveness and equity. Through this, rural residents can enjoy better transportation, and rural logistics can be more efficient," said Hou Zhenxing, deputy director of the general planning department of the Ministry of Transport.

According to the white paper, the steady development of transport facilities in rural areas has attracted more capital, projects and talents to the countryside, creating more job opportunities and broadening the avenues for income growth.

At present, rural road construction projects provide work for about 80,000 people in need as a form of relief, enabling an annual average per capita income increase of around 8,500 yuan (about 1,182.57 U.S. dollars), the white paper noted.

About 850,000 jobs are provided in rural road management and maintenance, offering an annual average per capita income of approximately 13,000 yuan, it said.

China builds inclusive rural transport service system: white paper