Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

The 23rd China International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition (CIEME), scheduled for Monday in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, offers a valuable glimpse into the latest trends in China's manufacturing sector. This year, the event will have an increased number of international exhibitors and overseas buyers, highlighting the increasing global engagement of China's equipment manufacturing industry. 

Professional attendees from multiple countries and regions, along with more than 500 overseas purchasing groups, have registered to participate, a 40 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Liaoning Daily. Meanwhile, the exhibition space for foreign and foreign-invested enterprises in China accounts for nearly 30 percent of the total, and the proportion of international exhibitors and the number of overseas buyers at this year's expo have both increased, according to the report. 

The CIEME is the only national-level trade exhibition in the equipment manufacturing sector approved by the State Council. It offers valuable insights into some emerging trends within the industry. First, the continued interest from international companies in the CIEME reflects the ongoing growth of China's equipment manufacturing industry. In the first half of 2025, the value added of equipment manufacturing went up by 10.2 percent year-on-year. This growth was particularly evident in the production of mid-to-high-end equipment, with power generators experiencing a 60.5 percent rise and railway passenger cars increasing by 49.8 percent.

The equipment manufacturing industry plays an important role in driving industrial growth. It sits at the heart of the supply chain, providing essential production equipment to various sectors. This industry not only directly supports the upgrading of manufacturing processes but also enhances the overall supply chain. 

The growth rate of 10.2 percent in the first half of 2025 indicates that companies are accelerating the replacement of outdated equipment with advanced production machinery. The development of the equipment manufacturing sector, characterized by advanced technology and high added value, demonstrates progress in China's industrial transformation and upgrading.

Second, China's unwavering commitment to expanding high-level openness has contributed to the internationalization of the CIEME. The manufacturing sector was one of the first areas in China to open up and remains a field characterized by intense market competition and close global industrial collaboration.

In 2024, the value added of China industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 6.1 percent, with particularly notable growth in the production of new-energy vehicles, integrated circuits, and industrial robots, according to official data. The expansion of high-tech industries and the demand for manufacturing upgrading have created a promising market for equipment manufacturing. This market is fully open to international companies, offering them significant opportunities.

While China continues to attract foreign investment, its domestic companies are also expanding their reach globally. According to customs data, in the first five months of this year, China exported 6.22 trillion yuan ($872.2 billion) worth of equipment manufacturing products, up 9.2 percent year-on-year. These exports accounted for 58.3 percent of the country's total export value. 

At this year's CIEME, the increase in the number of professional attendees and overseas purchasing groups underscores the potential for growth in China's equipment manufacturing exports. This trend highlights the country's evolving role in the global supply chain, offering opportunities for both domestic and international businesses.

Third, the CIEME, which has developed amid efforts to revitalize the economy in China's northeastern region, stands as the largest international trade exhibition in the country's equipment manufacturing sector. This area, known as a significant industrial base in China, has a robust industrial foundation and substantial growth potential. By effectively utilizing resources in equipment manufacturing, new energy, and the digital economy, the region has the potential to develop advanced manufacturing clusters. This strategy could play a positive role in addressing the challenges of economic transformation and fostering sustainable growth in the region.

Gathering global resources through high-level openness is a right approach that applies not only to the regional economy but also to the broader Chinese equipment manufacturing sector. In response to calls from certain countries for "decoupling," China's equipment manufacturing sector has demonstrated through concrete actions that the tide of globalization is irreversible and that collaboration within supply chains remains the prevailing trend.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn