A robot prepares a meal at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, on July 16. [Photo/VCG]
Editor’s note: After the release of China’s first-half 2026 economic data, China Daily invited chief executives and senior leaders from key multinational companies to share their perspectives on the world’s second-largest economy. Their insights go beyond short-term growth, offering a closer look at the evolving “China Opportunity 2.0” narrative amid ongoing debate over the so-called “China Shock 2.0”.
Q1 Many multinational companies in recent years continue to expand their investment and operations in China, suggesting that “China Opportunity 2.0” is increasingly offsetting the “China Shock 2.0” narrative. What developments or evidence best demonstrate that China is creating new opportunities for global businesses rather than posing a “shock”?
Samantha Zhu Chairperson of Accenture Greater China
ZHU: China is not only emerging as an innovation hub, but has also become a source of stability for the global economy over the years. Among major economies, China has demonstrated one of the highest levels of strategic continuity. Its industrial and technology policies evolve through predictable, multi-year planning cycles. Beyond policy, China’s real-economy backbone has proven remarkably reliable, supported by a sustainable energy supply, world-class infrastructure, a deep talent pool and full-spectrum industrial capabilities. For global enterprises operating in China, the key is to convert these advantages into scale, speed and resilience, and further into reinvention. Companies that pull ahead and capture new growth are likely to be those that invest where China is setting the pace: industrial ecosystems, digital adoption, and speed of execution.
CHEN: We see “China opportunity” in very practical ways: in the size of the market, the speed of industrial upgrading, and the depth of the talent and innovation ecosystem. Just as important, the continued improvement of the overall ecosystem — stronger supply chains, better industrial capabilities and faster development of entire value chains — creates new opportunities by itself. For Syensqo, China is one of our key growth markets, and we have built our presence here for more than 40 years. Today, we have five industrial sites and a major research and innovation center in Shanghai, which is Syensqo’s third largest globally. These are long-term commitments, and they reflect our confidence in the China market.
MA: China continues to create exciting opportunities for global businesses through its scale, consumer sophistication, innovation capabilities and commitment to opening-up. For VF, these strengths have reinforced our confidence in China after more than 30 years in the market. The rapid growth of China’s outdoor economy illustrates this opportunity. As more consumers embrace active and outdoor lifestyles, demand for innovative products and elevated brand experiences continues to grow, creating new opportunities for companies like VF. Reflecting our long-term commitment, we have continued to invest in the market, including opening Smartwool’s first store in China this year and The North Face’s first member center in Asia-Pacific in Shanghai last year, and investing in automation at our China distribution center. These milestones underscore our confidence in China’s long-term growth potential and its importance to our business.
JIANG: For Logitech, China represents an opportunity that continues to evolve. For many years, China was seen by global companies as an important market and a strong manufacturing base. Today, its role has expanded. China is also a source of innovation, a place where consumer expectations move quickly, and a market that can inspire products and experiences for users in China and, where relevant, other parts of the world. For more than three decades, Logitech has continued to build its presence in China, with our Suzhou manufacturing base established in 1994 as an important part of our global operations. Today, China plays an important role across our manufacturing, engineering, supply chain partnerships, local marketing and product innovation. Our Suzhou factory stands as our flagship manufacturing site, which produces more than 160 million mice, keyboards, cameras, headsets and other products per year.
Tanks to chinadaily.com.cn
Please visit:
Our Sponsor