(Economic Observation) Innovation Strength Support, Stable Development Environment Attract Multinational Companies' Attention to China Market

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China Development Forum 2026 Annual Meeting held in Beijing on March 22-23 attracted the attention of global multinational executives to market opportunities in China. Supported by innovative forces, a solid industry foundation, and a stable development environment, these factors are key reasons why business leaders are optimistic about the Chinese market.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a major buzzword at this year’s conference. When discussing China’s opportunities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed great anticipation for AI.

This expectation is backed by broad innovative strength. Cook stated that China’s talented developer community is challenging the limits of innovation every day. They use technology to build tools that help people learn skills, manage health, and spark new ideas, becoming powerful growth engines that bring prosperity and opportunities to the entire country. Similarly, this spirit of innovation has driven China’s automation and intelligent manufacturing to reach new heights in efficiency and level.

This optimism is also supported by a strong industry foundation. Schneider Electric Chairman Zhao Guohua said that as a global hub for AI industry development, China’s robust “AI+” policies, diverse application scenarios, and abundant innovation resources are accelerating the rise of AI industry clusters.

Based on this, Zhao Guohua mentioned that Schneider Electric has established an AI innovation lab in China, continuously increasing R&D investment, building an AI ecosystem, and accelerating large-scale application of AI technology in power grids, data centers, infrastructure, and other fields.

In recent years, China’s pharmaceutical innovation capabilities have gained international recognition. A Boston Consulting Group survey shows that the approval of original innovative drugs in the US FDA and European Medicines Agency has steadily increased, reflecting a rising global recognition.

Boston Consulting Group China Managing Partner Wu Chun pointed out that over the past decade, China’s pharmaceutical innovation has undergone a profound and systematic “efficiency revolution.” With a system characterized by “more, faster, cost-effective,” China has reshaped and driven its transformation from a participant in global innovative drug development to a significant influencer, with growth momentum still continuing.

Roland Berger Global Management Committee Co-President Dai Pu noted that the Chinese service sector has substantial potential demand waiting to be unleashed, including healthcare and elderly care services, which contain huge opportunities. He believes China’s next “DeepSeek moment” may emerge in the healthcare industry, with the potential for globally influential drugs originating from Chinese innovation.

Currently, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and trade protectionism are causing fluctuations in global supply chains. Multinational companies expect that China’s stable development environment will bring “certainty” to their operations.

Jonathan Plais, President and CEO of TKE Resources Group, said that China’s ongoing high-level opening-up and efforts to create a stable business environment send positive signals to international companies. For businesses, long-term investment decisions depend not only on market potential but also on transparency and predictability.

Peng Yingzhi, head of Jianjie Group China, pointed out that the deepening of financial market connectivity and the increasing maturity of domestic institutional investors make China a more attractive market. Looking ahead five years, opportunities in new productive forces are expected to drive increased demand for long-term capital and diversification of financial products.

A stable development environment has strengthened multinational companies’ confidence in China’s growth, attracting more real investments into the Chinese market.

Michael Nielsen, President and CEO of Amway Global, said the company is implementing a five-year investment plan totaling 2.1 billion RMB. The plan includes strengthening supply chains, enhancing intelligent digital infrastructure, promoting R&D innovation, and upgrading offline retail outlets, aligning closely with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.

Xu Xinxiong, CEO of Tiansi Group, stated that over the next five years, the group remains very optimistic about China’s market potential. As Chinese residents’ income levels continue to rise and consumption structures upgrade, demand for health and quality consumption is growing rapidly. For consumer goods companies, this means a larger market scale and more diverse consumption scenarios. (End)