China Supply Chain Expo Opens Beijing, Boosting Global Ties

Beijing — The fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) opened on June 22 at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, drawing 676 enterprises and institutions from 85 countries, regions, and international organizations in what organizers are calling the largest edition yet of the world’s first national-level supply chain exhibition.

Running through June 26 under the theme “Connecting the World for a Shared Future,” the expo features actual exhibitor participation exceeding 1,200 when including supply chain partners brought by anchor companies. Foreign exhibitors account for 36.5 percent of all participants, with more than 65 percent being Fortune Global 500 enterprises and industry leaders, according to Xinhua News.

A Platform for Supply Chain Resilience

The expo arrives at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, with global supply chains facing disruptions from trade tensions, maritime route challenges, and growing protectionist sentiment. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, calling on all countries to “enhance mutual trust, treat industrial and supply chains as a global public good, and keep trade flows unimpeded,” as CGTN reported.

“As a responsible major country, China has given full play to its complete industrial system and vast market to facilitate steady global economic operations,” Ding said. He stressed the need to uphold true multilateralism and ensure that scientific and technological innovation benefits more countries worldwide.

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile also attended and addressed the opening ceremony. “At this critical juncture of global economic transformation, the CISCE provides an important cooperation platform for us to deepen partnerships, strengthen confidence in the global multilateral trading system, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” Mashatile said.

Record International Participation

A notable feature of this year’s expo is Australia serving as the Guest of Honor Country — its first official participation at the national level, signaling improving bilateral trade relations after years of diplomatic tensions. France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Italy’s Liguria regions are participating as the first-ever foreign guest provinces, while China’s guest provinces are Anhui and Hainan.

One hundred and fifteen companies have attended all four editions as “full-attendance” participants, underscoring sustained corporate commitment to the expo. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), which organizes the event, welcomed more business communities to “take concrete actions to maintain the stable and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains.”

AI Takes Center Stage

The 2026 edition marks a significant technological pivot. The “Digital Technology Chain” has been upgraded to “Digital Intelligence Technology Chain,” and a dedicated artificial intelligence zone has been established for the first time, featuring global tech leaders including NVIDIA, Intel, Qualcomm, and Alibaba. The AI zone showcases the full ecosystem from data collection and intelligent computing to real-world applications across smart factories, logistics, healthcare, and urban management.

Yin Zheng, Executive Vice President of Schneider Electric and President of China and East Asia, highlighted the transformative potential of these technologies. “Taking Schneider Electric’s Shanghai Putuo ‘end-to-end lighthouse factory’ as an example, we have integrated AI, 5G, AR and other advanced technologies into the entire end-to-end process from design to delivery, achieving an 82 percent increase in per capita production efficiency and a 67 percent reduction in order production and delivery time,” he said.

Business Outcomes and Key Documents

More than 60 business exchange activities are scheduled throughout the expo, with over 160 new product and technology debuts. The opening day also saw the release of the “2026 Global Supply Chain Promotion Report” and an expanded global supply chain resilience index matrix. The “Beijing Initiative of the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo” was officially issued, calling for collective action to enhance supply chain resilience, accelerate digital transformation, and promote green development.

John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, underscored the urgency of the moment. “Recently, the impact on key maritime shipping routes has revealed a truth — openness, security, and resilience are no longer independent goals, but common necessities for all humanity, requiring shared responsibility from all parties,” he said.

Strategic Significance

The CISCE serves as a platform for China to demonstrate its commitment to globalization and supply chain connectivity at a time when many Western economies are pursuing “de-risking” strategies. The high proportion of Fortune Global 500 companies among exhibitors suggests that major multinational corporations continue to see value in engaging with China’s supply chain ecosystem despite geopolitical headwinds.

As CGTN noted in its analysis, the expo’s core innovation lies in using the “chain” as the organizing logic, gathering every link and production factor of modern industry on a single platform. China’s manufacturing sector has retained the world’s largest scale for 16 consecutive years, encompassing all industrial categories defined in the United Nations’ International Standard Industrial Classification.

What to Watch

The expo is open to professional visitors through June 24 and to the general public free of charge from June 25 to 26. Key outcomes to monitor include specific memoranda of understanding signed during the event, the response from Western media and governments, and whether the expanded supply chain resilience metrics released at the expo gain traction as an industry benchmark.

The fourth CISCE underscores a broader message: amid global fragmentation, China is betting that the “chain” — connecting upstream, midstream, and downstream — remains the most powerful organizing principle for the global economy.