China speeds up supply chain digital transformation: report

China has accelerated the digital-intelligent transformation of its supply chain, as the country aims to transform its role from a "world factory" to a "global supply chain hub", according to an industry report released on Tuesday.

The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) stressed in its latest report on China's supply chain development that the global supply chains are undergoing accelerated restructuring due to factors such as economic restructuring, trade protectionism, and technological change.

Despite the global uncertainties, it said, China has made remarkable progress in modern logistics and advanced manufacturing in recent years, with 80 national-level advanced manufacturing clusters covering areas such as high-end equipment and new energy, and high-end equipment clusters accounting for 36.25 percent.

Meanwhile, it said that China's supply chain has been undergoing digital transformation at a faster pace, empowered by emerging technologies.

CFLP data show that the overall penetration rate of artificial intelligence (AI) in logistics supply chain has exceeded 37 percent, with transportation optimization scenarios achieving the highest penetration rate of 78.18 percent. "Using AI to empower supply chain has become a major trend in industries. AI is being integrated and deeply applied in many supply chain scenarios, including product research and development, logistics, procurement management, and supplier management. Logistics companies are making more investment in the research and development of AI," said Peng Xinliang, secretary-general of the Public Procurement Branch at the CFLP.

The report also noted that Chinese companies' overseas expansion has been gradually shifting from "product export" and "capacity export" to a new stage of "industry chain and supply chain exports", as industrial clusters are cooperating to build overseas ecosystems.

In 2024, cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached 2.63 trillion yuan (about 368.87 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 10.8 percent.

Chinese companies have established over 2,500 overseas warehouses of over 30 million square meters in total.

China speeds up supply chain digital transformation: report

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, following a fourth strike near an Iranian nuclear power plant.

The IAEA said on social platform X that, according to the information from Iran, a projectile hit the nearby area of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday morning. This was the fourth such incident in recent weeks, it said.

One staff member at the site was killed by a projectile fragment, while a building on the site was affected by shockwaves and fragments, the IAEA said, citing the Iranian authorities. There was no increase in radiation levels reported, it added.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed his deep concern about the incident, stressing that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas "must never be attacked." He warned that the auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment.

Grossi once again stressed the paramount importance of ensuring nuclear safety and security during a conflict, calling for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.

Iran's nuclear facilities have been struck several times since the joint Israeli-U.S. military actions against the Islamic Republic started on Feb. 28.

Nuclear power plants must never be attacked: IAEA chief