At the ongoing second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), attendees emphasize the critical need for collaboration in global supply chains, highlighting China's pivotal role in fostering new opportunities and partnerships.
Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the expo is running from Tuesday to Saturday in Beijing. It showcases 620 companies and organizations from 69 countries and regions, reflecting a notable increase in participation. Prior to the event, over 5,000 demand matches were made, facilitating early connections between domestic and international businesses.
Yuki Izumikawa, head of Japanese Association for Promotion of International Trade stressed the importance of maintaining supply chain integrity.
"Decoupling and breaking supply chains goes against the current trends of the world and the natural laws of the market. Only by promoting stability and smoothness in industrial and supply chains, and by pursuing a path of peaceful development and cooperation, can we secure a brighter future," he said.
Global mining leader Rio Tinto, participating alongside China Baowu Steel Group, showcased its commitment to sustainability in the smart automotive chain sector. At their booth, the company displays essential materials crucial for manufacturing automotive bodies and components and shows how they cooperate with their downstream partners.
"We're here in the Rio booth. We are benefiting hugely from being part of the China supply chain. It's helping us in operating in 35 different countries around the world," said Dominic Barton, chairman of the company.
Peter Bakker, Chairman and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, echoed these sentiments, asserting the essential role of global supply chains.
"I think the world would not be the same if we didn't have global supply chains. And China is at the heart of many of those supply chains. So it's essential that we continue to work together, that we collaborate," he said.
Global supply chain collaboration highlighted at international expo
China's push toward a greener future is once again in the spotlight at this year's annual political "two sessions", as lawmakers are reviewing a draft ecological environment code, a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection.
The draft code was submitted on March 5 to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for deliberation.
Once adopted, it will become China's second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020.
The rule of law has been continuously strengthened to support the country's green progress. China already has more than 30 laws related to environmental protection, along with over 100 sets of administrative regulations and more than 1,000 sets of local rules.
The latest legislative move comes amid China's historic gains in ecological conservation over the past decade or so. Championing green development, the country has recorded the world's fastest growth in forest resources and afforestation, led globally in renewable energy development, and achieved one of the fastest national reductions in energy intensity worldwide.
The 1,242-article draft has five chapters, covering areas including pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development.
Scholars involved in drafting the legislation say the code goes beyond broad legal principles. It is also designed to address environmental issues that affect people's daily lives.
"Electric vehicles are becoming very common in China. My family has one. We all think it environment-friendly. But have you ever thought about this question: how do we deal with the first generation of EV batteries after they expire a few years later? The same goes for wind turbine blades and solar panels," said Ding Lin, assistant professor of the Renmin University of China.
China's environmental progress has drawn global attention in recent years, from improving air quality to expanding renewable energy. Yet amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, some observers have questioned whether the country will maintain the same pace of green transition.
"Last year during the COP30, even some friends who are very familiar with China asked me whether China will continue its green development path. I told them we have gradually worked out new policies. We have a very clear direction and goal. In a world full of uncertainties, we are providing the most certainty," said Wang Yi, an NPC deputy from east China's Zhejiang Province and professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In a country pursuing modernization, taking the time to codify environmental laws sends a clear message: economic growth and environmental protection are not a trade-off to be managed, but a commitment to be upheld. For China, a beautiful environment is not a luxury for the future, it is a right for the present, and a responsibility to the next generation.
"This code reflects China's vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It shows how development and environmental protection can move forward together," said Lyu Zhongmei, vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.
China will accelerate the green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by a total of 17 percent in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development submitted to the NPC for deliberation on March 5.
Chinese lawmakers review draft ecological environment code in major green legislative push
