Shandong's Lushang Group exhibition zone of the Shandong exhibition area at the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo held in Beijing. [Photo/Qilu Evening News]

The 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) kicked off in Beijing on July 16, with Shandong province serving as a guest province. The province showcased its robust industrial base and key industrial chains over an exhibition area of 2,600 square meters, with more than 1,000 items on display, aiming to promote international cooperation in its industrial and supply chains.

Shandong High-Speed Group's booth highlighted the China-Europe Railway Express. Since the group unified the railway's operations in October 2018, the service has expanded significantly, with over 12,000 trains having operated to date.

Thailand, the guest country this year, held an international supply chain cooperation matchmaking event with Shandong, yielding fruitful results. Last year, trade between Shandong and Thailand reached 74.6 billion yuan ($10.39 billion), up 10.8 percent year-on-year, with 33 Shandong companies investing over $480 million in Thailand.

Narongsak Puttapornmongkol, chairman of the Thai Chinese Chamber of Commerce, attended the expo for the second time. He noted that Shandong is a vital economic partner for Thailand, with many Shandong enterprises setting up factories in the Southeast Asian country, especially in the sectors of new energy and tire manufacturing. Thailand's rubber resources and agricultural products offer strong potential for cooperation.

The cooperation matchmaking event attracted participants from Thailand, Serbia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, and other countries. Over 300 Chinese and foreign business institutions and companies engaged in talks, reaching several preliminary cooperation agreements.