On March 24th, the "NOW & NEXT" summit of DHL Group, a global logistics service provider, was held in Shanghai. This was the first time the summit was held in China, focusing on core issues for Chinese enterprises in the process of globalization.

The process of globalization continues to evolve, and China's role is escalating

Is globalization still continuing? A newly released report gives a quantitative answer. According to the 2026 DHL Global Connectivity Report, jointly released by DHL and NYU Stern School of Business, the level of globalization in 2025 will be 25%, the same as the record high set in 2022. Global trade in goods will reach a new high in 2025, with an average trade distance of 5,010 kilometers, indicating that the breadth and depth of global trade are still continuing.

In this report, China's performance is particularly prominent.

The vitality of China's foreign trade is not only reflected in the trade of intermediate goods, but also in emerging fields. According to data from the World Trade Organization, in the first three quarters of 2025, AI-related products contributed 42% of the increase in global trade in goods, and China plays an indispensable role in it.

Participants believe that behind these changes is that China is moving from a "world factory" that undertakes orders to a deep integration into the global value chain and a "supply chain center".

The logistics network is extended to support the new pattern of trade

As more and more Chinese goods go to emerging markets such as ASEAN, the Middle East, and Africa, higher requirements are put forward for the logistics infrastructure of destinations - the efficient operation of intermediate goods trade and the smooth connection of transit trade all rely on the support of mature logistics networks. According to public information, DHL has continued to invest in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions in recent years, planning to invest more than 500 million euros in the Middle East and 300 million euros in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 to build infrastructure to support emerging trade routes. Participants pointed out that this synergy effect of "wherever trade flows, the logistics network extends to wherever it goes" is making the "last mile" of Chinese enterprises going overseas smoother.

At the same time, DHL's local investment in China is also increasing. According to statistics, DHL has invested more than 2 billion yuan in China in recent years for the new construction, renovation, expansion and upgrading of ports such as Wuxi, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhuhai, etc., comprehensively improving the cargo sorting capacity and transshipment efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the central and western regions.

The vitality of China's county economy is injecting new momentum into foreign trade. More and more manufacturing enterprises in small and medium-sized cities have shifted from domestic sales to pay equal attention to domestic and foreign trade, and have the ability to directly participate in global trade. In recent years, DHL has continued to invest in sinking markets, establishing service centers in many lower-tier cities such as Tai'an, Yinchuan, Baoji, and Jiujiang, bringing global logistics professional services closer to emerging business hubs and consumer markets.

Taking North China as an example, as the first international express delivery company to settle in Hebei, DHL has been deeply involved in Hebei for 30 years, from the initial focus on document delivery, to now providing customized solutions for hardware machinery, clothing and textiles, pharmaceuticals and chemicals and cross-border e-commerce, witnessing the export-oriented transformation of Hebei county characteristic industrial clusters. This is not only a microcosm of the sinking logistics network, but also confirms the potential of the county economy in the new pattern of foreign trade.

Rooted in China for 40 years, hand in hand with Chinese enterprises

As one of the first international express companies to enter China, DHL has been developing in China for more than 40 years. From the layout in the early days of reform and opening up, to China's rapid growth after joining the WTO, and now to its deep integration into the global supply chain system, this international logistics company has witnessed every step of China's leap from "world factory" to "global supply chain center".

At this summit, the heads of DHL Group's express, global freight, supply chain and other business units gathered in Shanghai. John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL Express, said, "China is not only one of the fastest-growing logistics markets in the world, but also an integral core market in DHL's global network. In his view, the breadth and depth of China's manufacturing industry have incomparable advantages in the world. As China's economy moves towards a stage of high-quality development, the role of logistics services is undergoing a transformation from a service provider connecting import and export trade to a comprehensive partner that supports Chinese enterprises to "go global". "By connecting markets, businesses and consumers, we are committed to strengthening global ties, enabling all parties to be agile, diversify and open up new opportunities."

This summit, which was held in China for the first time, was regarded by participants as an important vane for international logistics companies to deepen their cultivation in the Chinese market. At a time when the global trade pattern is profoundly adjusted, logistics companies are shifting from simple "transporters" to "enablers" - behind this role change is the unstoppable reality of Chinese enterprises' overseas momentum, and it also means that logistics is upgrading from the cost center of enterprises to the core of competitiveness.