The third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing entered its final day on Sunday, with many exhibitors saying that they have successively found new partners or development opportunities through the five-day event.
Serving as a platform for connecting upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, the CISCE is recognized as the world's first state-level expo dedicated to global supply chains.
Zhao Fei, who has been involved in trading goods from Peru for more than a decade, is one of the exhibitors. Attending the expo for the first time, Zhao said his goal was to find new buyers for Peruvian avocados.
"We maintain excellent relationships with local farmers and fruit producers in Peru. They've entrusted me to bring more delicious Peruvian products, especially avocados, to China through the CISCE," said Zhao, general manager of Letian Zhiyou (Beijing) Culture Development Co., Ltd.
At the expo, Zhao successfully partnered with a chain business based in east China's Shandong Province, which is looking to import fresh fruits from South America.
"We just had discussions with our Peruvian partners about products such as avocados and grapes. We plan to visit Peru soon for further communication and negotiations," said Wang Na, business director of the Shandong-based chain business known as Lushang International Trade Co., Ltd.
Apart from upstream and downstream enterprises, the expo has also brought together numerous logistics companies, including COSCO Shipping Lines, whose refrigerated containers meet precise cold-chain requirements to ensure the premium quality of avocados during the long journey of shipment.
"Our technology provides real-time feedback on temperature changes within avocado containers throughout the supply chain, thus ensuring the freshness of the fruit shipment," said Chen Xiaochen, a staff member at the Latin American division of COSCO Shipping.
Running from July 16 to 20, the expo has created valuable opportunities for many companies to expand business.
"By extensively connecting upstream and downstream partners, we can jointly promote the better development of the entire industry chain, improving both efficiency and quality," said Yang Gang, vice president of Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group China.
Themed on "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," the expo has drawn to it nearly 1,200 exhibitors from both home and abroad.
Exhibitors say new partners or development opportunities found at supply chain expo
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
