Global supply chain cooperation remains the trend (open discussion)

Currently, the world is undergoing unprecedented changes, with geopolitical conflicts and local wars emerging one after another, unilateralism and protectionism prevailing, the international order severely impacted, insufficient economic growth momentum, and an increasing number of unstable and uncertain factors facing the development of global supply chains. The latest report released by the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) in June 2026 predicts that global economic growth will decrease from 3.4% in 2025 to 2.8% in 2026. According to research by the World Economic Forum (WEF), armed conflicts between countries, geo economic confrontations, and extreme weather are currently the top three risks facing the world.

The higher the wind and waves, the more we need to work together. More than ever before, countries need unity and cooperation, to transcend barriers and conflicts with a broad mind, and to care for the fate of humanity with broad mindedness. The international community should work together to promote global supply chains, insisting on "holding hands" rather than "letting go" and "extending chains" rather than "breaking chains".

China has always been an important participant and active contributor in the global industrial chain and supply chain, firmly upholding the public product attributes of the industrial chain and supply chain, deepening international cooperation in the industrial chain and supply chain through practical actions, and promoting the steady development of the global supply chain towards a safer, more efficient, inclusive, and win-win direction.

On the one hand, China actively promotes open cooperation in the supply chain, adheres to the concept of openness and inclusiveness, and shares the opportunities of mutually beneficial cooperation with the world. As the world's first national level exhibition with supply chain as its theme, the Chain Expo has been dedicated to promoting the connection of upstream, midstream, and downstream industries, the integration of large, medium, and small enterprises, the synergy between industry, academia, research, and application, and the interaction between Chinese and foreign enterprises since its establishment in 2023. It has promoted the construction of a closer global industrial chain and supply chain partnership, and has become a globally renowned international economic and trade event and a globally shared international public product. At the 4th Chain Expo, the number of participating units increased from 515 in the first edition to 676, with a continuous increase in the number of countries covered and the proportion of overseas participating institutions. The number of overseas exhibition groups also increased significantly, and the channels for connecting international production and supply chains continued to expand. The global influence of the exhibition steadily increased.

On the other hand, China continues to strengthen its core industrial competitiveness and deliver high-quality products and services to the global market. China relies on its technological advantages in new generation information technology, new energy, green manufacturing, and other fields to accelerate the creation of a global hub for scientific and technological innovation, strengthen industrial docking and cooperation with more countries, and promote the continuous improvement and efficiency of the global supply chain. By the end of 2025, the added value of China's digital economy core industries will increase to over 10.5% of GDP, and research and development applications such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology will lead the world, providing sustained growth momentum for global economic development.

The results of the "Global Supply Chain Resilience Index Matrix" released at the 4th Chain Expo show that the overall operating environment of the global supply chain is stabilizing and improving, and positive factors still dominate. From 2018 to 2025, the global supply chain promotion, connectivity, innovation, and resilience indices have all improved, increasing from a base value of 1 to 2.839, 1.657, 2.565, and 1.249, respectively. The annual compound growth rates are 16.07%, 7.48%, 14.40%, and 3.23%, respectively. The global supply chain is developing towards greater resilience, efficiency, and vitality.

Despite the constant challenges, open cooperation remains the trend of the times, and mutual benefit and win-win outcomes remain the mainstream. As the theme of the Chain Expo is "Connecting the World, Creating a Shared Future", countries should work together to maintain the stability and smoothness of the global supply chain, and continuously deepen practical cooperation.