MNCs leveraging China's development trajectory
Editor's Note: As China launches its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), policymakers are strengthening coordination between the "Export to China" and "Shopping in China" campaigns. The effort signals a clear commitment to expanding imports while promoting high-quality consumption. To explore what this means for global business, we invited executives from multinational corporations to share their perspectives on the opportunities in China's vast market, the role of their China operations in global strategy, and their outlook for the years ahead.
Q1 China's GDP grew 5 percent in 2025, reaching 140.19 trillion yuan ($20.28 trillion). For 2026, the government targets growth of between 4.5 percent and 5 percent, with a planned deficit ratio of around 4 percent. How do you assess the credibility and policies backing this target? Amid moderating global demand, what does China's relative growth certainty mean for your company's global capital allocation, earnings outlook and investor expectations? Does the combination of proactive fiscal policies and accommodative monetary measures reinforce your confidence in sustaining or expanding operations in China?
Cui: We maintain long-term confidence in China's economic prospects. Despite the challenging global environment, we remain confident in the systemic resilience of China's economy and we believe that the structural dividends of the Chinese market's long-term development will continue to be unleashed and benefit the world.
We will remain steadfast in practicing our "In China, for China" strategy: focusing on industrial upgrading opportunities in sectors like new energy and advanced materials during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), and deeply participating in the construction of a modern industrial system. At the same time, we will share China-validated solutions with the rest of the world through our global R&D network.
Zhang: China's growth target of 4.5 percent to 5 percent for 2026 reflects a balanced and pragmatic policy approach, especially in the context of moderating global demand and a complex geopolitical environment. The resilience of the Chinese economy stems not only from stable macroeconomic policy support, but also from ongoing industrial upgrading and innovation-driven development.
From a corporate perspective, China's stable growth trajectory and clear commitment to industrial transformation provide long-term certainty for multinational companies. For Dassault Systemes, China is not only an important market, but also a key part of the global innovation ecosystem.
Zhao: China's latest GDP growth target is firmly anchored in high-quality development. It's well above the global average despite a complex external environment. Looking ahead, this target provides us a consistent and predictable landscape for our mid and long-term planning in China.
In the coming five years, the government has planned over 100 major projects, including those related to new type energy systems, and green transition. This brings encouraging opportunities for Hitachi Energy. As a global technology leader, Hitachi Energy has been injecting a $9 billion investment plan since 2020 globally. We are now expanding our manufacturing bases in China and enhancing supply chain resilience to better support the low-carbon goals.
Dewoon: The strategy of our company in China is real customer value creation and sustainability — which is in accordance with the objectives of China's 15th Five-Year Plan.
By investing in China, our commitment is to contribute to an upgrading of the whole transport system. We bring to China over 130 years of experience, of the logic of growth with efficiency, reliability and sustainability combined, and here with integrating Chinese technical features and unique innovations into the transport and service solutions we offer in China.
The industrial hub in Rugao, Jiangsu province, including a strong R&D team, ensures efficiency and agility to adapt to China and to the famous "China speed". Every day our roots shoot ever deeper, making us an integral part of the Chinese commercial vehicles and transport industry.






















