The 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) opened in Beijing on June 22. Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
Ding noted that the current world situation is complex and volatile, with increasing risks of fragmentation in industrial and supply chains. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is an important guarantee for promoting world economic development and serves the common interests of people worldwide. As a responsible major country, China has effectively leveraged its advantages, such as a complete industrial system and an ultra-large-scale market, to strive for smooth operations of the world economy, taking concrete actions to firmly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains. Facts have fully proven that China is not only a participant and beneficiary of global industrial and supply chain cooperation, but also a firm defender and builder.
Ding emphasized that global supply, industrial, and value chains are closely interconnected, where every country is a link in the cooperation chain, and maintaining the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains requires collective efforts from all parties. He put forward four proposals: First, strengthen mutual trust, prevent the politicization, weaponization, and over-generalization of security concepts regarding economic and trade issues, strive to eliminate interferences from non-economic factors, and jointly maintain the attribute of industrial and supply chains as global public goods. Second, enhance smooth trade, uphold and practice true multilateralism, safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, oppose protectionism in the name of green and low-carbon development, actively foster a fair, open, and predictable market environment, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. Third, deepen integrated development, work together to promote the deep integration of innovation chains with industrial and supply chains, jointly build an industrial ecosystem with complementary advantages and mutual benefits, and allow the fruits of scientific and technological innovation to benefit more countries and people. Fourth, promote resource sharing, actively maintain the openness, connectivity, and stable operation of the global energy market, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and peaceful utilization of critical minerals, and create favorable conditions for ensuring the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains.
Subsequently, Ding announced the opening of the 4th CISCE.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Ding toured the CISCE exhibition halls and interacted with representatives of participating enterprises.
Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of South Africa, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Global Council, read a congratulatory message from King Charles III of the United Kingdom to the 4th CISCE. John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Xi Guohua, Chairman of CITIC Group, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Around 1,300 representatives from political, business, academic, and other sectors from over 100 countries, regions, and international organizations attended the event.
Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), moderated the opening ceremony. He stated that in the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, the 4th CISCE focuses on promoting high-quality development and expanding high-level opening-up, making greater efforts to advance international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, and helping Chinese and foreign enterprises share opportunities and achieve common development. The CCPIT will firmly adhere to the fundamental purpose of serving both Chinese and foreign enterprises, build high-quality platforms, provide all-around services, promote the construction of closer industrial and supply chain partnerships, and make new contributions to advancing the building of an open world economy and a community with a shared future for humanity.
At the opening ceremony, the CCPIT, together with representatives of the business communities from participating countries, jointly released the Beijing Initiative of the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo.
Hosted by the CCPIT, the 4th CISCE is themed “Connecting the World for a Shared Future.” Five international organizations, including UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the ICC, serve as supporting organizations of the Expo. Australia is the Guest Country. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France and the Liguria region of Italy serve as the newly established Foreign Guest Provinces, while Anhui and Hainan are the Domestic Guest Provinces. This year's CISCE features six major chains: the Digital Technology Chain, Advanced Manufacturing Chain, Green Agriculture Chain, Healthy Life Chain, Smart Vehicle Chain, and Clean Energy Chain, as well as a Supply Chain Services Area. A total of 676 leading enterprises, specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, and industry institutions from 85 countries, regions, and international organizations are participating in the Expo.