Multinational companies hailed China's efforts to champion openness and pursue investment-friendly policy, after the country's commitment to these positions were reiterated at the China Development Forum 2026.
At the just-concluded forum, Premier Li Qiang said China will continue to embrace free trade, advance high-standard opening up, and work with other countries to enlarge the global economic and trade pie.
Themed "China in its 15th Five-Year Plan Period: Advancing High-Quality Development and Creating New Opportunities Together", the two-day event convened global business leaders and scholars to explore shared opportunities emerging from China's pursuit of high-quality growth.
Premier Li's message at the event has been roundly welcomed by major global enterprises. Ola Kallenius, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said the company will beef up investment in China as its strategy perfectly aligns with China's development plans outlined during the two sessions.
"When we read the document that came out from the two sessions, of course the headlines are innovation and technology, how do you leverage artificial intelligence and also robotics, the road towards sustainability. We thought to ourselves that is the Mercedes Benz plan for China. The auto industry has a very big role to play there. He talked about the competitive dynamics and mentioned that this was like the fitness center of the world. And I can certainly say that's true for the auto industry. So if you want to participate in competition on the highest level, you got be in China. And that's Mercedes Benz's strategy, to double down on China and invest in China for the long term," he said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Kallenius said China's commitment to opening-up not only attracts foreign investment but also will bolster the country's development in the long run.
"What Premier Li said, I think he made a very strong statement - China's open for business and we want companies to come to China. We want also companies to export to China. In fact, he was talking about setting up 100 different forums, import export forums. So, if China continues to open up the market and make it easier for us either to invest or, through operations from more overseas, access to market. Of course, that would be important for us, but I think long term, that is going to strengthen China. Let's not be naive, over the last several years there have been more protectionistic movements around the world in different places. Speaking as somebody who has the privilege of leading a global company, you don't want protectionism. You want opening up. And if China chooses to go this way and maybe be a contrarian in a more protectionist environment to open up, I believe that will be a long-term benefit," he said.
Vivek Badrinath, director of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), an advocacy group for the mobile communications industry, also praised China's preferential policies for investment.
"A country where the digital economy is developed, where your connectivity is strong, is a stronger country. So, it's better for the common good if the policies that are in place favor investment. You see this in China, policies have favored investment by the three operators, and that has led to very impressive results on 5G-advanced and on automation. And this is what we tell other governments as well," he said in another CGTN interview.
Global companies welcome China's dedication to openness, favorable investment policy
Global companies welcome China's dedication to openness, favorable investment policy
