China's production and supply chain efficiency is very competitive, providing 90 percent of raw materials for Schneider Electric, according to the Xia Xueying, the vice president of the French multinational corporation.
Xia made the statement in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) on the sidelines of the ongoing third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), the world's first national-level event focusing on supply chains, which runs from July 16 to 20 in Beijing.
The expo serves as a timely platform for global manufacturers to engage in international dialogue and explore cooperation opportunities, according to Xia.
"Schneider may be a newcomer to this year's supply chain expo. However, we have been deeply involved in the Chinese market for a long time. Given the current circumstances, it is crucial for us to stabilize the development of the global supply chain and industrial chain while upgrading the industry. Therefore, we view our presence at the expo as an opportunity to learn advanced experience and show the strengths of our overall supply chain. We also hope to explore more cooperation opportunities," Xia said.
Since entering the Chinese market in 1987, Schneider Electric has steadily expanded its presence. The company collaborates with over 1,600 local suppliers, and as a result, China has become its second-largest market globally.
"China is our second-largest market globally. It has a robust supply chain base. Judged from the perspective of overall production and operation, what we feel in our upstream and downstream procurement, or the rapid responsiveness of downstream services available, the efficiency of China's entire production supply chain is highly competitive," she said.
The vice president also hailed China's diverse raw material and supply chain categories, noting that the country's vibrant business environment enables Schneider to respond quickly to customers' needs.
"Our local supply chain handles numerous global innovation tasks. In terms of production, we have a very extensive supply chain category, with 90 percent of our raw materials sourced in China. Our own sales network is across the country. China has a rich variety of business scenarios, enabling us to respond quickly when serving our customers," she said.
China's production, supply chain efficiency very competitive: Schneider vice president
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
