The signing ceremony for the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) is held in Beijing on December 1, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)

A total of 44 Chinese and foreign enterprises have signed up to participate in the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in 2024, including SAP, GE Healthcare, TCL, Winner Medical, iFLYTEK and Sinopharm, which are all exhibitors at the ongoing first CISCE, the Global Times learned from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the organizer of the event.

The vast majority of exhibitors said that the effect of the first CISCE exceeded their expectations, and they hoped to continue to participate in CISCE next year to further expand international supply chain cooperation, Zhang Shaogang, Vice Chairman of CCPIT, said at the signing ceremony of the second CISCE on Friday during the first CISCE, which is held from Tuesday to Saturday. 

 "We had a harvest beyond expectations at the first CISCE, which enabled small and medium-sized enterprises like us to have direct contact with large companies. Therefore, we immediately signed up to attend the second CISCE," Zhao Yun, vice general manager of Inner Mongolia Jishuo Technology Co. Ltd, told the Global Times on Friday at the signing ceremony for the second CISCE.

Jishuo Technology is a supply chain service provider for intelligent animal husbandry.

"There are no expos like the CISCE that can showcase our whole supply chain service. We used to only display our intelligent farm or our data center, which are part of our services. Now that we can really show our products at the CISCE, some target customers, such as Shenzhen Agricultural Power Group and CITIC Group, came straight for us and reached some deals," said Zhao.

BGI Shenzhen Co is also among the companies that have signed up for the second CISCE.

"BGI is committed to advancing genetic research, technologies and applications to benefit mankind. By using our products and technologies, we hope to improve the health and well-being not only of the Chinese people, but also of people around the world. We believe that we can achieve this through CISCE and that's why we are willing to attend the second expo," Xiong Tao, Vice President of BGl Global Development, told the Global Times on Friday at CISCE.

China has for many years been labeled as the manufacturing hub of the world, so naturally it plays an important role in many companies' supply chains today, Clas Neumann, Senior Vice President and Head of Global SAP Labs Network, told media during the CISCE.

 "Transport and logistics make an important differentiator in the efficiency of supply chains, and China has also invested massively in its harbors and infrastructure to help that work flawlessly," said Neumann.

Since early this year, China has seen continued rebound in its economy, with leading growth rate among major economies, and substantive progress in high-quality development, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Friday at a regular press conference, adding that it is widely believed that China is the biggest driver for the world economy and will contribute one third of global growth. He also said that the world has looked to the Chinese market for more opportunities.

Wang cited the first CISCE, which has attracted more than 500 Chinese and foreign enterprises and institutions. The 6th China International Import Expo held at the beginning of November saw tentative deals worth $78.41 billion signed, 6.7 percent higher than the previous expo. The investment contracts of the just-ended second Global Digital Trade Expo reached 155.85 billion yuan ($21.8 billion), an increase of 316.7 percent over the session in 2022.

 "We welcome friends from the business communities of all countries to invest in China, explore China's market, and share in the new opportunities arising from China's high-quality development and high-level opening-up," said Wang.

In fact, international cooperation has been seen at the first CISCE. For example, GE HealthCare and Sinopharm jointly hosted an exhibition booth at CISCE, the Global Times learned from both companies.

In contrast to China's commitment to opening-up, some Western politicians have called for "decoupling" or "de-risking" efforts.

"Through our rich and vivid exhibits, detailed data and candid attitude, we send a very clear signal to the world that China and Chinese enterprises are not risks in the global supply chain, but a very valuable and indispensable part of the global industrial and supply chains," said Xiong.