Interview: China a leading force for sustainable transition in global supply chains, says expert

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has emerged as a leading force in sustainable development, with its rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) helping accelerate global green transition, an industry insider has said.

"China's long-term commitment means that China is a reliable partner that gives confidence to global investors interested in supporting sustainable businesses," Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) told Xinhua in an interview.

She made the remarks following the opening ceremony of the SMI booth at the 2026 China International Supply Chain Expo, which kicked off on Monday.

Depicting China as "a leading force in the sustainability transition in global supply chains because of its green technology, capacity for advanced manufacturing, and market scale," she said that she has been particularly impressed by the rapid pace of China's AI development and the growing range of practical applications emerging across industries.

"Increasingly as AI becomes more and more sophisticated, what we need to do is apply AI to tackle problems and design solutions," she said, viewing the expo as an important platform for building synergy in this regard.

She voiced her delight that the concept of sustainable development is thoroughly integrated into the expo's entire operation, which is powered by 100 percent green electricity, while featuring a dedicated AI exhibition zone for the first time.

"We are hoping to see industries actively using AI to help achieve the green transition faster," she said.

As new challenges arising from geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, rapidly evolving technologies and restructuring in global supply chains, Jordan-Saifi said that the transition toward a more sustainable and resilient economy can no longer be viewed separately from growth and competitiveness. Instead, it lies at the heart of all.

In her view, the expo has provided timely confidence for businesses around the world to jointly address common challenges and seize opportunities for the sustainability transition.

SMI, a private sector organization for sustainable transition, was founded by British King Charles III in 2020 while he was the crown prince.