Supply chain expo attendees call for global supply chain cooperation

The 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) has brought together companies from around the world to collaborate on building better supply chains, with attendees stressing the great significance of global supply chain cooperation.

The five-day event, which concludes on Sunday, has drawn to it nearly 1,200 exhibitors from both home and abroad. It is recognized as the world's first state-level expo dedicated to global supply chains.

Attendees at the CISCE noted that their insights highlight the intricate web of global supply chains and the pivotal role China plays within it.

"For example, for all the optical fiber manufacturing in Japan, the raw materials, some of the products do come from China and then after that these fibers will go to some in China, some in India, some in the U.S., some in Europe," said Takeo Keizo, managing director of Sumitomo Electric Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

"We introduced patented crop protection compounds invented in Switzerland and turned them into crop protection products in China. Another example is biological formulations derived from Norwegian fjord seaweed. These products are widely used in Chinese farmlands. In terms of active ingredient R&D and production, we have a strong presence in China," said Hou Yu, chief sustainability officer of Syngenta Group China.

"Our overseas suppliers are based in Japan, Germany and Austria. Our headquarters are in Changsha, China and we also have an R&D center in Shanghai," said Ge Junhui, an engineer of SpeedBot Robotics Co., Ltd.

Experts emphasize that China plays multiple key roles in the global supply chain, from sourcing and manufacturing to R and D and sales.

"They [China's supply chains] now connected with those of over 160 other countries. This means that China is not only a center of global manufacturing but also a key contributor to global manufacturing, with its contribution to world economic growth remaining around 30 percent," said Xu Jiabin, a professor with the Business School of the Renmin University of China.

Supply chain expo attendees call for global supply chain cooperation

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that his country and China can build a mutually beneficial relationship amidst competitions.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office in June 2025.

In an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul, capital of the ROK, on Wednesday, Lee said that the ROK and China both place great importance on the development of high-tech fields, and this inevitably creates competitions between the two countries, but will also presents ample cooperation opportunities for both sides.

"To my knowledge, the Chinese government has made tremendous efforts in high-tech investment, research and development investment, and the talent cultivation in the field of basic research, just as the ROK has done. From this perspective, the ROK and China share similarities in economic growth strategies, which certainly creates competitions between the two countries, but it also presents broad cooperation opportunities for both sides. I believe that if we can explore areas for cooperation amid competitions and enhance our respective strengths through cooperation, we can build a mutually beneficial relationship that not only supports China's sustainable development strategy but also promotes ROK's growth strategy," Lee said.

ROK president eyes mutually beneficial relationship with China amid competitions