Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Mr. Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
Mr. Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the CCPIT
Mr. Nie Wenhui, director of the CCPIT General Office and spokesperson of the CCPIT
Chairperson:
Xie Yingjun, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
June 9, 2023
Xie Yingjun:
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to this press conference of the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The first China International Supply Chain Expo will be held in Beijing. Today, we invite Mr. Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), to share the preparations for this expo and answer questions. Also present at today's press conference are Mr. Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the CCPIT, and Mr. Nie Wenhui, director of the CCPIT General Office and spokesperson of the CCPIT.
Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Ren for a brief introduction.
Ren Hongbin:
Thank you. Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! It is a pleasure to be here today alongside my two colleagues. I am also excited to have the opportunity to meet both new and familiar faces in the media. On behalf of the CCPIT, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the news media and individuals from all walks of life for your unwavering support for China's trade promotion efforts.
Today, we provide relevant information about the upcoming China International Supply Chain Expo.
The first China International Supply Chain Expo, recently dubbed as the "Chain Expo" by the media, will be held at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Venue) in Beijing from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 this year. The theme of this year's Chain Expo is "Connecting the World for a Shared Future."
We are well aware of President Xi Jinping's strong emphasis on the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains. He has repeatedly highlighted China's commitment to taking practical measures to ensure the security and stability of these chains on a global scale.
In May 2022, President Xi Jinping called upon the global business community to actively promote the interconnectivity of industrial and supply chains when addressing the 70th-anniversary conference of the CCPIT and the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit via video link.
Organizing the first Chain Expo is a significant step in fully implementing the principles outlined at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping's important video speech. This expo is a crucial initiative to actively contribute to establishing a new development pattern. It will expand the opportunities for Chinese-style modernization through increased openness. It aims to facilitate the deeper participation of Chinese companies in the global industrial division of labor, foster open cooperation within industrial and supply chains, and drive the advancement of a modern industrial system. Furthermore, it acts as a novel platform for exchange and collaboration, designed to enhance the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains in the post-pandemic era. This platform will strengthen cooperation and create shared opportunities for enterprises from different countries. It will foster a more organized, streamlined, and efficient global industrial connection while promoting the development of a resilient global industrial and supply chain.
The first Chain Expo is hosted by the CCPIT and organized by the CCPIT subsidiary, China International Exhibition Center Group Limited. Several international organizations will also co-organize the event. With an exhibition area of over 100,000 square meters, the expo will have areas dedicated to five major supply chains, including smart vehicles, green agriculture, clean energy, healthy living, and digital technology. It will also host an exhibition area for the modern logistics sector. The expo will feature an opening ceremony and the Global Supply Chain Innovation and Development Summit. Additionally, it will include five themed sub-forums centered around the five major supply chains, along with a range of supporting activities such as supply and demand matchmaking meetings, industry seminars, and new product launches. It can be said that exhibitions and meetings will work synergistically to achieve common objectives and reinforce one another at the first Chain Expo.
We are exerting every effort to promote the participation of exhibitors and potential buyers from both home and abroad for the first Chain Expo. We have sent invitations to various entities, including centrally-administered enterprises, state-owned enterprises, leading enterprises in the industrial chain, foreign-funded enterprises in China, private enterprises, and specialized and sophisticated enterprises. Additionally, we have contacted embassies and consulates abroad, overseas representative offices of the CCPIT, our counterparts in other countries, and foreign business associations, among others, to extend an open invitation to the global business community. Just last night, we held a promotional event for the expo and a meeting for Chinese and foreign enterprises, attended by nearly 600 individuals, including diplomatic envoys from relevant countries in China, foreign business associations, and representatives of both Chinese and foreign enterprises. We were pleased to witness more than 30 companies signing letters of intent to participate in the exhibition. Based on the current situation, the efforts to attract exhibitors and potential buyers for the expo have progressed smoothly, and there is substantial enthusiasm from enterprises of all parties. Presently, hundreds of Chinese and foreign enterprises, including top 500 global companies, specialized and sophisticated firms, small giants, and "hidden champion" companies, have confirmed their participation in the exhibition.
With the first Chain Expo just 172 days away, we are fully committed to attracting investments and securing exhibitors. We will further refine the exhibition design and prepare for forums and other activities, ensuring the resounding success of the first Chain Expo. We sincerely invite governments, business communities, and international organizations and institutions from all countries to participate in this expo. We eagerly invite guests from all walks of life to the Chain Expo in late November to participate in this grand event, share opportunities and collectively shape a better future.
We also extend a warm welcome to the media to continue your attention, coverage, and promotion of the Chain Expo. Furthermore, my colleagues and I are here to address any questions.
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Xie Yingjun:
The floor is now open to questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising your questions.
Zhejiang Daily Tide News:
Executives from various multinational companies, including Elon Musk, have recently visited China. They also consider the CCPIT to be an important destination during their visits. Therefore, we would like to gather more information. Mr. Ren, how do executives like Musk perceive the current business environment in China? What are their intentions for participating in this Chain Expo? Thank you.
Ren Hongbin:
Thank you for your question. Since the beginning of this year, the CCPIT has welcomed many executives from the top 500 companies and leaders of foreign business associations to China. It is widely known that most executives from the world's top 500 companies and leaders of foreign business associations come to China through invitations and coordination facilitated by the CCPIT. Upon their arrival in China, we arrange extensive exchanges for them with relevant departments, local officials, and enterprises. Based on the current situation, many foreign corporate executives and business association heads, including Musk, have expressed strong confidence in China's economic development during these conversations. They have affirmed their commitment to further deepening their presence in the Chinese market.
CCPIT conducted a survey among over 600 foreign enterprises in China in the first quarter of this year. According to the survey, satisfaction ratings on many indicators are above 80 percent, with 97% of the enterprises showing their satisfaction with foreign investment policies rolled out by the Chinese government since the fourth quarter of last year. Therefore, foreign enterprises in China are satisfied with the business environment in the country.
We hosted the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2023 not long ago. Guests from many countries and international organizations, including President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff, and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, showed their confidence in jointly building an open world economy and the long-term positive trend of China’s economy in their speeches.
Visits to CCPIT by multinational companies, in a sense, have reflected their recognition of our work in serving foreign enterprises. Since May of last year, according to the unified deployment of the Chinese government, CCPIT has established special working mechanisms for serving foreign enterprises to provide all-weather and whole-process services and actively spur foreign investment quality and quantity.
Specifically, we have started a bottom-up direct channel to meet the demands of foreign-invested enterprises and respond to problems encountered by foreign-funded enterprises and foreign business associations in China in their production and operation. We have strengthened exchanges with foreign business associations and foreign-invested enterprises on a regular basis. We have organized enterprise symposiums and dialogues between governments and enterprises regularly, listened to and responded to the concerns of foreign enterprises in a timely manner, improved the business environment monitoring system, and released national and provincial business environment survey reports regularly. We have steadily promoted targeted services to attract investment. We have promoted local investment policies through the platform named Invest China and released over 4,000 investment projects. We have also organized multinational companies to visit places in China and done a good job in matching up projects to help them share opportunities and dividends of China's development. Multinational companies come to China to communicate with us; this is the first point I would like to talk about. Through special working mechanisms for serving foreign enterprises, we felt that foreign enterprises are full of confidence in China's development.
Second, in communications with senior executives of multinational companies, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, we found that the Chain Expo is also an important issue of common concern. Everyone is very curious about the expo, which is the first expo focusing on supply chains in the world. We are also full of expectations about the expo. Many senior executives of multinational companies decided to participate in the expo during our talks, believing that the Chain Expo comes at an opportune time in the context of the economic integration of various countries. Everyone has shown great interest in the expo.
President Xi Jinping instructed that CCPIT should stay true to its founding mission of serving Chinese and foreign businesses. We will keep President Xi Jinping’s words firmly in mind, advance our work with full strength, diligently perform our duties and work with domestic and foreign enterprises to build the first Chain Expo into a world-class platform for promoting trade and investment, turn it into a new window for China’s high-standard opening up, and take concrete actions to expand the prospects for the development of Chinese modernization. Thank you.
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Phoenix TV:
As you just mentioned, many domestic and foreign enterprises have registered for the Chain Expo. What are those specific highlights of the expo that attract them? Thank you.
Yu Jianlong:
Thank you for your question. You have raised a very good question. Based on statistics of registration for the expo, companies, especially foreign enterprises, have shown great interest in the Chain Expo. We have visited many enterprises recently, including the world’s top 500 enterprises, companies with long industrial chains, and small and medium-sized enterprises, and have also done many surveys in different localities. Just as Mr. Ren mentioned, many enterprises have shown their great interest in the supply chain expo when meeting with us, and many of them decided to participate in the expo on the spot, believing that it comes at an opportune time.
I think that many enterprises are interested in the Chain Expo because it focuses on the distinctive theme of chains, and it has unique display modes of industrial ecosystem and scenarios. The supply chain expo is an open platform for international cooperation that connects the upper, middle, and lower reaches; promotes the integration of small, medium, and large enterprises; coordinates production, study, research, and application; and boosts interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises. As for exhibitors and purchasing agents, they will have a different sense of gain compared with participating in other expos. Specifically, the supply chain expo will play the role of four platforms for trade promotion, investment cooperation, innovation gathering, and mutual learning and exchanges.
First, it is a platform for trade promotion. During the Chain Expo, we will converge high-end products, cutting-edge technology, and professional services of world-renowned enterprises. Apart from exhibitions and displays, we will also organize a series of activities, such as business negotiations, matching up of supply and demand and field procurements to help suppliers and purchasers from various countries establish cooperative relations and reach cooperation intentions.
Second, it is a platform for investment cooperation. We do not simply pursue the amount of transactions during the Chain Expo. The main indicator for evaluating the actual effect of the expo is to see how many businesses have established cooperation in the supply chains, and whether it has helped enterprises improve efficiency and reduce costs. Therefore, the Chain Expo will not only promote trade cooperation but also drive investment cooperation between multinationals and small and medium-sized enterprises. By inviting service agencies closely related to international investment to participate in investment matchmaking meetings, fairs, project road shows, and capital connectivity programs, the supply chain expo will provide more investment cooperation opportunities for domestic and foreign enterprises, especially promote cooperation between specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products and large companies.
Third, it is a platform for innovation gathering. Invitations of enterprises, agenda settings, and exhibition designs all highlight innovative elements, aiming to promote the deep integration of the innovation and industrial chains. The most representative and distinctive enterprises in the industrial chain will display their cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements and disruptive technologies. Specifically, enterprises in the digital technology chain will display language models and other AI technologies. Enterprises in the healthy life chain will showcase the latest technologies, such as in-vitro testing and genetic screening.
Fourth, it is a platform for mutual learning and exchanges. We will organize a number of forums during the Chain Expo. Corresponding thematic forums and seminars involved in five chains will be held, which will invite industry authorities, global leaders, representatives from multinationals, and renowned experts and scholars to share their views on new trends of industrial development and discuss new paths for advancing cooperation between industrial chains and supply chains to present a feast of ideas. Meanwhile, we will give visitors a new experience through scene presentations, multimodal interactions, and immersive experiences.
In conclusion, the Chain Expo will make exhibitors, purchasers, and visitors find themselves in an entirely new world and have a rewarding visit. Thank you.
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Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:
Some exhibitors are concerned about intellectual property protection, what will the organizers of the Chain Expo do to provide intellectual property protection services for exhibitors? Thank you.
Nie Wenhui:
Thanks for your question. The CCPIT attaches great importance to intellectual property protection in exhibitions and has rich experience. We have made careful arrangements for the work of intellectual property protection for the Chain Expo.
First, we will improve the working mechanism and establish a system of liaison officers for intellectual property protection during the Expo. We will strengthen communication and cooperation with intellectual property rights departments, and enhance law enforcement of intellectual property rights to investigate and punish acts that infringe on intellectual property rights of exhibitors and buyers in accordance with the law.
Second, we will make and distribute intellectual property questionnaires to find out the actual needs of exhibitors so as to provide precise and efficient services.
Third, we will set up an intellectual property column on the official website of the Chain Expo, providing laws and regulations, information guidelines, and publicity materials on intellectual property.
Fourth, we will set up a service center for intellectual property protection and commercial dispute settlement at the site of the Expo, where authoritative experts in the field of intellectual property rights will be invited to provide consulting services for exhibitors and buyers. Thank you.
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CCTV:
Currently, there are many kinds of exhibitions in China. I would like to ask, what are the outstanding features of the Chain Expo compared to others? Thank you.
Ren Hongbin:
Thanks for your question. As you said, since the 18th CPC National Congress, various large-scale high-level international exhibitions have blossomed in China, including the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo. Those exhibitions have shown the world China's confidence and determination in promoting high-level opening up and its actions to create an international platform for countries to share opportunities and expand exchanges.
Why will we host the Chain Expo? Earlier, I introduced the main information and characteristics of this expo. As a new window for China to foster a new development pattern and a new platform for promoting high-level opening up, the expo is the world's first high-level supply chain-themed exhibition. We often say that "the green lotus leaves stretch to the horizon and the lotus flowers look incredibly red in the sunshine." We hope that the expo will become a spotlight among various exhibitions hosted by China after the 20th CPC National Congress. We also hope that the expo will be in line with the expectations of Chinese and foreign enterprises, in line with advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts, and in line with efforts to build an open world economy, therefore become a new international public product that is beneficial to all and shared by all.
If there is anything different from other exhibitions, I would list the following three aspects:
First, the vision of the expo is different. As mentioned earlier, President Xi Jinping has on many occasions stated that China is committed to keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, which fully reflects the shared aspiration of the vast majority of countries and enterprises in the world. Currently, supply chain is a "hot word" and "key word" regarding the world economy. Themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future,” the expo will help to build more consensus for openness. It will also encourage countries to jointly overcome the difficulties and challenges confronting global economic growth and bring a bright future for global development through openness. At the same time, the expo uses the supply chain as a medium to bring together global business enterprises through exhibitions, forums, seminars, and other ways, to explore upstream and downstream partners in the supply chain and jointly send a strong message of maintaining the stability and smoothness of the global industrial and supply chains.
Second, the way of organizing is different. The Chain Expo is not just showcasing a single type of product, but showcasing the chain and ecosystem. Looking vertically, we will display globally leading products and technologies in the upstream, midstream, and downstream of various chains, highlighting green development, low-carbon environmental protection, and digital transformation. Looking horizontally, we will showcase supply chain services, including finance, logistics, trade consulting, commercial and legal affairs, culture, tourism and creative design, fostering an ecosystem for the development of related industries. The exhibitors of the expo are not only the leading enterprises in the supply chain, but also the small and medium-sized specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products, “little giant” enterprises, as well as “hidden champion" companies. What you see is not an exhibition of a certain enterprise or product, but a complete ecosystem of the five major sectors. Enterprises that have signed up for the expo are mainly central government enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and the world's top 500 enterprises. Therefore, in the process of promotion, we call for paying more attention to the resilience and inclusiveness of the entire industrial and supply chains and bring upstream and downstream, small and medium-sized enterprises to the expo.
Third, the aim of the expo is different. Rather than simply showcasing products or signing orders, the Chain Expo focuses on the exchange and cooperation among upstream, midstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain, enabling them to find their accurate position in the supply chain and the most suitable partners for cooperation. The expo not only focuses on short-term transactions but also on long-term cooperation and common development. This is what sets the Chain Expo apart from other exhibitions, and the sense of gain for enterprises is different. The Chain Expo is not only open to professional purchasers but also welcomes universities, research institutes, and the general public, allowing everyone to see the latest development forms and future development trends of industrial and supply chains for the five sectors. The Chain Expo will become a cooperation platform for enterprises to seize new opportunities and expand their international circle of friends, and it will also become a feast of ideas for industry exchanges, discussions, and development. We will hold five professional forums together with relevant international organizations, domestic industry associations and government departments. Meanwhile, we will adopt an interactive, experiential, and immersive presentation that makes everyone personally experience the development of modern industrial and supply chains as well as the development of modern science and technology, and feel that technology improves life and technology creates the future. Thank you.
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Economic Daily:
At present, the risk of world economic recession is on the ascent, the growth of external demand is slowing down, and the environment for the development of our foreign trade is complicated and challenging. What specific measures does CCPIT have in promoting the stable scale and optimized structure of foreign trade? Thank you.
Yu Jianlong:
Thank you for your question. The 20th CPC National Congress made comprehensive strategic plans for accelerating China’s transformation into a trader of quality. At present, with the weak recovery of the world economy, the shrinking external demand, and the intensifying geopolitical conflicts and protectionism, foreign trade enterprises are facing greater risks and challenges. We give full play to our functions of connecting government and enterprises, integrating internal and external sources, and ensuring stable supply and demand, using every possible means to help companies solve difficulties and expand markets, to contribute to promoting stable scale and optimal structure of foreign trade and accelerating China’s transformation into a trader of quality.
First, we have strengthened trade promotion. Trade promotion is the expertise of CCPIT. We continue the promotion and implementation of RCEP and other free trade agreements and guide enterprises to make full use of the preferential policies. According to statistics, the national trade promotion system held more than 200 forums and training sessions last year, benefiting hundreds of thousands of enterprises. This year we have further intensified our work. In the first five months, the number of certificates of origin, ATA carnets, and commercial certificates issued by the national trade promotion system has increased significantly year-on-year. We continue to strengthen the Internet Plus comprehensive services, promote the intelligent and convenient services of certificate of origin and ATA carnet, and at the same time intensify our efforts to hold training and seminars in various places.
Second, we have created a platform for trade and economic cooperation. Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Promoting the Stable Scale and Optimum Structure of Foreign Trade ,” emphasizing the optimization of the supply and purchase dovetailing of key exhibitions, promoting the full recovery of domestic offline exhibitions, and requiring localities, trade promotion agencies, and business associations to further increase support for enterprises to participate in various overseas exhibitions, continue to cultivate self-organized exhibitions abroad and expand the scale of exhibitions. We focus on holding the first Chain Expo, global trade and investment promotion summit, and other activities to build more platforms for foreign trade enterprises to display and negotiate cooperation. Just as Mr. Ren said that the 2023 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit we held on May 24 made representatives of many foreign companies and business associations take this opportunity to communicate and negotiate with Chinese companies. Since the beginning of this year, the CCPIT has completed the approval of the first group of 519 applications for holding trade and economic exhibitions abroad and is reviewing the second group of more than 400 projects. We will hold a series of exhibitions for key global markets and industries.
Third, we have expanded our commercial legal services. CCPIT has a long history of providing commercial legal services with complete institutions and a wealth of talents. In recent years, we have further improved the full-chain, one-stop, international commercial legal service system and strengthened legal services such as international trade and economic arbitration, commercial mediation, and intellectual property protection. Through our online legal service platform, ctils.com, about 300,000 legal consultations have been provided for enterprises, and the difficulties encountered by enterprises in transnational operations have been answered in a timely manner. At the same time, we strengthened the construction of enterprises’ compliance and helped more than 5,000 enterprises investigate compliance risks in international operations.
Fourth, we have optimized the supply of public goods. We have compiled and issued foreign investment guides for 108 countries and specific legal guides for 104 countries so that enterprises can better understand the business environment in these countries. We released the International Intellectual Property Protection Index Report and the Global Economic and Trade Measures Index for the first time in the world and achieved remarkable results. We have improved the research and working mechanism for foreign trade enterprises, closely tracked the situation, and collected problems and appeals from various enterprises in a timely manner. Just as Mr. Ren Hongbin said that we have set up a special working group for foreign-invested enterprises to respond to and promote the resolution of more than 5,000 demands of foreign-invested enterprises in a timely manner. This work can also provide references for government departments to make decisions.
In the next step, we will continue to closely track the operation of foreign trade with the local governments and relevant departments, do a good job in studying and analyzing the situation, improve the service quality for enterprises, and take the first Chain Expo as a starting point to seize opportunities and expand markets for enterprises to contribute more to the consolidation of the economy. Thank you!
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National Business Daily:
We have learned that the first Chain Expo will invite the world's most representative enterprises to attend. May I ask about the progress concerning the participation of exhibitors and potential buyers? What services will be provided for exhibitors? Thank you.
Nie Wenhui:
Thank you for your questions. It can be said that the invitation of exhibitors and potential buyers is the key to the expo's success. The active participation of many Chinese and foreign enterprises has laid a solid foundation for us to do a good job in the next step of preparation. Recently, the CCPIT has visited more than 10 provinces and municipalities for promotion. Two signing ceremonies for exhibitors were held in Tianjin and Beijing, and overseas road shows were held in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. The invitation of exhibitors has been effective and orderly, with noticeable results. We are very selective, and so far hundreds of leading Chinese and foreign enterprises have confirmed their participation. More than 300 enterprises are expected to participate in the exhibition, with about 30% being international exhibitors. The number of professional buyers and visitors is expected to exceed 100,000. The proportion of international buyers is projected to exceed 40%, covering more than 50 countries and regions.
In the next step, we will also conduct road shows in France, Saudi Arabia and other countries. In addition, we will continue to invite exhibitions and potential buyers at home and sincerely welcome more enterprises to sign up for the exhibition.
Everyone is eager to know about the services provided to exhibitors. Over the years, the CCPIT has accumulated a wealth of experience in running exhibitions and conferences. The organizer of the Chain Expo, China International Exhibition Center Group Limited (CIEC), is a direct subsidiary of the CCPIT and enjoys an excellent reputation in China's exhibition industry. The CIEC has two exhibition venues. The first Chain Expo will be held in the Shunyi venue, and all kinds of services will be available. We will provide professional and international full-chain services for all exhibitors and potential buyers. First, we will upgrade the exhibition hall to create a better environment for exhibition and participation. Second, we will recommend transportation agents to assist overseas exhibitors in customs declarations and clearance and provide convenience in customs and transportation services. Third, we will formulate green construction standards and openly solicit high-quality construction service providers to ensure display effect. Fourth, we will introduce professional service providers such as business consulting and multilingual translation, strengthen site management, and offer one-stop services for exhibitors and visitors. Fifth, we will enhance IPR-related legal consultation and dispute handling. Thank you.
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Yicai:
In stark contrast with some Western countries' rhetoric about decoupling or cutting supply chains, China has consistently upheld the principles of deepening international cooperation and maintaining the stability of the global supply chain. May I ask the CCPIT what efforts Chinese enterprises have made to maintain the stability of the international supply chain? What risks and challenges are still posing a threat? Thank you.
Yu Jianlong:
Thank you. It's an excellent question. Simply put, Chinese enterprises have made substantial efforts to maintain the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain. However, there are still significant risks and challenges. As we all know, the international supply chain can be likened to the human body's circulatory system, where interconnected enterprises act as the vital red blood cells that sustain the system. Ensuring the smooth and stable operation of global industrial and supply chains is crucial for preserving the vitality of global economic development. The world functions as an interconnected entity, and economic progress would be unattainable without the proper circulation of resources and trade. The acts of decoupling or cutting supply chains and erecting walls or barriers not only disrupt market rules and the international trade order but also undermine the foundation of efficient global cooperation, posing a threat to the stability of global industrial and supply chains. Such actions contradict the objective laws of the economy, causing harm to others without benefiting oneself while impeding worldwide economic recovery.
China has worked to promote and maintain global industrial and supply chains, ensuring they remain stable and smooth. It is the only country in the world equipped with a complete range of industries and a major center for worldwide manufacturing and supply chains. As the world's second-largest economy, China has the highest volume of trade in goods and takes the lead in attracting foreign investment and making outbound investments. Chinese enterprises are the most vibrant contributors to global supply chains. The Chinese business community has always played a vital role in maintaining the stability of global industrial and supply chains. We should ensure smooth supply chains and oppose decoupling or cutting supply chains.
At the second meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council held not long ago, the CCPIT organized and led representatives of Chinese entrepreneurs. This helped to facilitate the draft of a letter by the Asia-Pacific business community to trade ministers of APEC countries. Focusing on supply chains, digital trade, trade and climate, new energy vehicles, and other issues, we called on the trade ministers to oppose protectionism, practice non-discriminatory treatment, and advance open and free trade, demonstrating the shared aspiration and strong position of the Asian-Pacific business community for opposing trade protectionism and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. Especially concerning the issue of supply chains, the Chinese business community has proactively expressed their views and guided the meeting to have an in-depth discussion about the enormous negative impact of fragmentation of trade and technology decoupling on regional economic development, especially the destructive impact on regional supply chains due to politicizing and weaponizing chip supply chains by certain countries, gaining understanding and support of all parties. And the letter proposed opposing protectionism and administrative measures that disrupt supply chains and creating an inclusive, open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for the development of digital economy.
In recent years, affected by multiple factors such as COVID-19, global industrial and supply chains have undergone reshaping, reconstruction and adjustment at a faster pace, posing an increased challenge for Chinese enterprises. However, as President Xi Jinping pointed out, "To grow its economy, China must have the courage to swim in the vast ocean of the global market." We also believe that Chinese enterprises are brave and capable enough to take the lead in the vast ocean of the global economy.
Indeed, not only Chinese enterprises but also the whole international business community face these risks and challenges. By hosting the Chain Expo, we aim to set up a beacon for keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth. Our goal is to provide guidance and build platforms for win-win cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises to enable enterprises to better explore collaboration on this platform and drive global economic recovery and growth. Thank you.
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Xie Yingjun:
The last two questions, please.
Macau Monthly:
The First China International Supply Chain Expo focuses on five major chains, such as smart vehicles. What are the considerations for that? Thank you.
Nie Wenhui:
Thank you for your question. Concerning the layout of the exhibition area at the first Chain Expo, we carried out careful research and analysis. We have had in-depth exchanges and discussions with hundreds of domestic and foreign enterprises and professional institutions. Considering all parties' views, we selected five sectors: smart vehicles, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology and healthy living. They are all fundamental, leading industries with long chains and close attention from all parties. That has gained full approval from all parties, including academicians and experts in relevant fields, multinational companies, and many leading enterprises in industrial chains. Based on the current condition, domestic and foreign enterprises are eager to participate as exhibitors or seek business opportunities, proving that these five chains are the right choice.
First, the automobile industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in the world. The smart vehicle chain part will showcase the key technologies, products, and services in the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the new energy vehicle industrial chain. These include core raw materials, key components and power systems.
Second, agriculture is crucial for sustainable development. The green agriculture chain part will display the key technologies and products from all links of this field. These include seed research and development, green agrochemical products, agricultural machinery, and agricultural product processing.
Third, clean energy is vital for humanity's future development. The clean energy chain part will present the new and latest technologies, products, and development trends in wind power, photovoltaic power, energy storage, hydrogen energy, smart grid, and the low-carbon transformation of traditional energy.
Fourth, digital technology is a crucial engine for economic development. The digital technology chain section will display cutting-edge technologies, solutions and applications where various industries are empowered and demonstrate the key links and elements of the digital economy.
Fifth, health represents people's aspirations for a better life. The healthy life chain section will showcase products and services in pregnancy and infant care, nutrition and personal care, and elder care in a panoramic presentation covering the whole life process.
In addition, the supply chain service exhibition area will present comprehensive logistics, Internet of Things technology, automated delivery, and services such as finance, insurance, and commercial law. Thank you.
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N Videos at Southern Metropolis Daily:
Global industrial systems and industrial and supply chains are becoming more diversified. Maintaining stable and smooth industrial and supply chains has drawn attention from governments and business communities of all countries. Under such circumstances, what are CCPIT's considerations for organizing the Chain Expo? Thank you.
Ren Hongbin:
Thank you for your question. Just now, my colleagues also talked about it. The reasons for holding the Chain Expo can be explained in three aspects. First, organizing the expo is a concrete action to promote international cooperation in global industrial and supply chains. On many major international occasions, such as the G20, APEC and BRICS meetings, President Xi Jinping has stressed China's principles and positions on keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth. China has, together with many regional organizations and countries, launched initiatives to enhance cooperation in supply chains. The Chain Expo presents China's solution to building a global industrial and supply chain system that is secure, stable, smooth, efficient, open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial. It also provides a new exchange and cooperation platform for maintaining stable and smooth industrial and supply chains across the world after the pandemic.
Second, hosting the expo is our concrete response to the common pursuit of the global business community. The CCPIT has developed a network of agencies at home and abroad. It has 925 regional and industrial sub-councils in China and 30 representative offices abroad. It has established multilateral and bilateral business cooperation mechanisms with its counterparts in over 140 countries and regions. Keeping industrial and supply chains stable and smooth has always been the focus of our daily exchanges with domestic and foreign enterprises. Maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is also a consensus and common aspiration. Not long ago, the Beijing Initiative was released at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2023 that we held. Safeguarding the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains was also included in the initiative.
Third and very importantly, the organization of the expo is a concrete action to continue to advance the high-quality development of the cause of trade promotion as we stand at the historic starting point for the 70th anniversary of the CCPIT. As was mentioned just now, in May last year, President Xi Jinping delivered an important video address at the Conference on the 70th Anniversary of CCPIT & Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit, proposing an important initiative to promote the interconnectivity of industrial and supply chains to the international business community. In his address, President Xi Jinping fully recognized the glorious achievements the CCPIT has made in the past 70 years and expressed his hope that the CCPIT will "continue to break new ground with its tradition of excellence, strengthen its service network for businesses, expand its international circle of friends, and score still greater achievements in contributing to high-quality development and a new development paradigm in China and to an open world economy." The organization of the Chain Expo is the concrete action taken by the new generation of staff at the CCPIT to implement the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping's video address, inherit and carry forward the fine traditions over the past 70 years and build on this achievement to write a new chapter of trade promotion in the new journey. The CCPIT will work with domestic and foreign enterprises as always and jointly build more platforms of cooperation and exchanges, to further liberalize and facilitate global trade and investment, contribute to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, and make the global governance system more just and equitable. Here, we call on reporters to present the Chain Expo with us. This will enable us to develop a new platform of exchange and cooperation for the global business community and jointly contribute to global economic recovery after the pandemic.
Thanks again to our friends from the media. We welcome you to follow, cover and promote the Chain Expo. Let's look forward to late November this year and witness the success of the first Chain Expo. Thank you, everyone!
Xie Yingjun:
Thanks for the introduction by Mr. Ren and all the speakers, as well as the participation of our media friends. Today's briefing is now concluded. Goodbye!
Translated and edited by Wang Yiming, Yuan Fang, Yang Xi, Zhang Junmian, Dong Qingpei, Huang Shan, Yan Bin, Zhou Jing, Liu Caiyi, Xu Kailin, Liu Sitong, Li Huiru, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
