Julian Mac-Cormac, regional director of Rolls-Royce Greater China, stressed the importance of supply chain cooperation between the company and its Chinese partners.

"It's very clear that alongside the investment in capacity, we've seen the introduction of greater automation, as well as the application of digital manufacturing techniques. And we see that in our supply chain in China today," he said.

MacCormac is also chair emeritus of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. "We have supplies across many different locations and China has been and is an important part of our supply chain," he said.