China's unwavering green policy push, standing in sharp contrast to wavering global climate pledges, gives foreign companies the confidence to make long-term business investments in the country, according to Ester Baiget, co-chair of Summer Davos 2026.
The World Economic Forum's 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, opened on Tuesday in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.
A central question at this year's forum is whether the energy and climate transition can genuinely drive competitiveness rather than be a cost burden. Baiget, also president and CEO of the Danish biotech firm Novonesis, said that her company operates at precisely that crossroads, applying the solutions offered by emerging technologies to carry out green yet profitable ventures.
"We can now do with AI, with advanced engineering, with the extraordinary improvements there have been in technology, we can take CO2 captured by plants and take that biomass and transform it into value-added solutions. This is what we do in Novonesis. We know that there is a stronger answer of the future, and we're doubling up on our investments. Within the last years since 2018, we have reduced our CO2 emissions more than 60 percent, and at the same time we have increased revenue more than 30 percent. So, we're showing that there is a way, that is possible that you can decouple from fossil while continuing to move fast forward bolder to the future of reliable and competitive paths," Baiget said.
Many of these technologies rely on work and research being done in China. With three decades of presence in the country, Baiget emphasized that its real draw lies in the robust innovation ecosystem.
"Of what we see in China, it's not only the demand. It's the network with universities, with local players. It's the speed, it's the agility that makes it precious to be here. We're very very excited about the future ahead, not only from the legacy of what we have been producing and the input in China, but also new opportunities that are emerging. We see new growth potential opportunities in spaces like plastic recycling, enzymatically decoupling PET into the building blocks. We are not moving into farming. We are not farmers. But yes, we can be an enabler of helping farmers to produce more with less, which is exactly our mode of strategy," Baiget said.
At a time when some major economies are stepping back from their climate pledges, China is charting a different course. The country's first ecological and environmental code, set to take effect this August, underscores its firm commitment to the green transition.
For Baiget, this consistent green policy certainty in China, built on a "firm narrative of change", fuels long-term business investment.
"I want to echo and applaud what you just mentioned on China, on the consistency and the value of a firm narrative of change. It gives guaranteed reliable demand, and it gives companies like ours the commitment to continue to invest in that future. Because when you have predictability on demand, you're just going to double up on investments, on innovation," Baiget said.
China's green policy stability boosts long-term foreign investment: Novonesis CEO
Zhang Hongzhang, a 40-year-old researcher turned astronaut, became China’s second payload expert to reach space aboard Shenzhou-21 on October 31, 2025. He conducted groundbreaking studies on lithium-ion batteries for space applications and looks forward to further experimental projects in space again.
He recently shared his experiences in space, insights into his selection, and future expectation during an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing.
As one of four payload specialists in China's third batch of astronauts, Zhang and his crew spent 210 days in orbit, from their launch on October 31, 2025, to their return on May 29, 2026, setting a new record for the longest single crew stay by Chinese astronauts.
During their mission, they completed three spacewalks and conducted extensive space science experiments, notably witnessing and participating in the first-ever in-orbit emergency rescue operation in the history of China's manned space program.
Before joining the astronaut corps, Zhang was a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), focusing on key materials and technologies for large-scale energy storage batteries. The study on lithium-ion battery electrochemistry for space applications was developed collaboratively by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, and the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
During his mission, Zhang performed in-situ optical observations of lithium-ion batteries under microgravity conditions, capturing full-process images of lithium dendrite growth and adjusting experimental procedures, monitoring experimental conditions in real time, and identifying and recording key scientific phenomena.
"The purpose of this experiment is, first, to verify my experimental equipment — the first time an electrochemical experiment has been conducted in orbit — and that it can proceed smoothly. Second, I hope to be able to observe in orbit the experimental phenomena I want to observe and obtain the data I can get. After analyzing the experimental data, we can then improve the battery's performance, and after improvement, conduct another verification on the space station. This may form a complete closed loop. At present, this is still the first step. If we can analyze this problem clearly, it will serve as a very good reference for other batteries beyond lithium-ion batteries," he said.
Zhang considers himself fortunate to have pursued new energy and energy storage.
"Because this direction is very important for the future of our Earth. We need to reduce uncontrolled carbon dioxide emissions, reduce the greenhouse effect, and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Because these fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, cannot have unlimited reserves on Earth. So we develop new energy and green energy. I think choosing this direction back then was indeed fortunate," he said.
Zhang graduated from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Shandong University. In 2018, at age 32, he had begun to stand out in scientific research, leading multiple major projects. That same year, China opened the astronaut selection process to researchers and engineering technicians for the first time, and Zhang signed up.
In September 2020, Zhang became one of China's third batch of astronauts. After a comprehensive evaluation, he was selected for the Shenzhou-21 flight mission. This marked the second time China assigned a crew composed of spacecraft pilots, flight engineers, and payload experts to carry out a mission.
"Because I had been engaged in research work at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics for more than 10 years, I am very familiar with and understand what ground-based researchers want to obtain through these experiments, what they care about, and what they may not notice.I may be able to assist with these experiments, ensuring their smooth completion while potentially yielding additional unexpected results and better solving some issues that may arise beyond the initial plan," he said.
Reflecting on his time in space, Zhang said: "One overarching impression is that space is immensely profound. People — including every one of us — and the even Earth seems very small. Indeed, Reflecting on my extended time in space, it truly feels as if it all happened in a dream."
Zhang also expressed his desire to return to space again.
"I look forward to it. I also hope there can be more experimental projects, and that more scientists can conduct experiments in orbit, or at least send their experiments to the space station, so that in this unique environment, we can make greater contributions to exploring and utilizing space," he said.
China's second payload specialist eyes further space experiments months after return
