China News Service, March 26 (China News Financial Reporter Zuo Yukun) "The topics we pay attention to are diverse, but they have a common theme, which is to be optimistic about China and invest in China." In the spring season, a A large-scale national-level international forum arrived as scheduled.
From March 24 to 25, the 2024 Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum was held in Beijing. With the theme of "Sustainable Development of China", this annual meeting attracted more than 110 foreign representatives. Executives from dozens of foreign companies are flocking here and their investment continues to increase. Why do they continue to cast a "vote of confidence" in the Chinese market? Foreign companies give answers from three aspects.
On March 24, the 2024 annual meeting of the China Development Forum opened in Beijing. Photo by reporter Sheng Jiapeng
The market is huge, “there is no place more important than China”
"Enterprises of all types will have broad room for development in China to achieve mutual benefit, win-win results, and common development." The words of Zheng Shanjie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, expressed the common thoughts of the participants.
"You always look for markets that are driving innovation and developing rapidly, and China is such a market." said Boleren, Chairman, President and CEO of Siemens AG. He always told the team that China is not only our The largest market in terms of industrial technology applications, it is also one of the most innovative frontier markets.
The picture shows Bolleren (middle), Chairman, President and CEO of Siemens AG, attending the opening ceremony. Photo by reporter Tomita
Data from the Ministry of Commerce show that in the first two months of this year, 7,160 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established across the country, a year-on-year increase of 34.9%, the highest level in the past five years, which fully reflects the enthusiasm of foreign investors to share opportunities in the Chinese market.
"I am more convinced than ever before that China will become the world's largest medical market, and China is also expected to become an important source of next-generation medical technology innovation." Medtronic Chairman and CEO Jeff Massa said that Medtronic has entered China and During the 35 years of deeply exploring the Chinese market, it has built a complete local value chain including R&D, production, sales, training, after-sales, investment funds, etc.
"There is no place more important to Apple's supply chain than China." Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized Apple's long-term commitment to the Chinese market. Before heading to Beijing, he also showed up at a new store located in the core area of Jing'an District, Shanghai. He opened the door to the largest Apple retail store in Asia and the second largest in the world, and made a V sign with one hand.
The picture shows Apple CEO Cook. Photo by reporter Sheng Jiapeng
Good measures, "Investing in China means investing in the future"
"The L'Oreal Group will continue to invest in China. Because we believe that investing in China is investing in the future." L'Oreal Group CEO Ye Hongmu mentioned that we have witnessed the steady development of the Chinese economy through technological innovations such as 5G, artificial intelligence and the digital economy. Growth, green and low-carbon transformation, coordinated urban and rural development, and profound changes and opening up of the business environment have also injected new impetus into growth.
China's door to the outside world is still opening wider and wider. In 2023, my country released 24 policies and measures to stabilize foreign investment, and took the lead in piloting the docking of relevant international high-standard economic and trade rules in 5 free trade pilot zones and Hainan Free Trade Port; "Foreign Investment Action Plan" once again shows that my country attaches great importance to foreign investment work.
Today, the attractiveness of rules and systems increasingly affects foreign investment intentions in a country. What these series of actions reflect is the positive interaction in which China gives reassurance to foreign investment and foreign companies give China a vote of confidence.
"China's economy continues to rebound, China's capital market is opening up at an accelerated pace, and the process of internationalization of the RMB continues to advance. Standard Chartered Group will continue to deeply explore the Chinese market." Standard Chartered Group CEO Wen Tuosi said that China has provided huge opportunities in sustainable supply chains. Investment opportunities, development in areas such as electric vehicles and lithium batteries are a model for other countries in the world.
Rio Tinto Group CEO Shi Daocheng also said that China's continuous reform and industrial transformation, as well as the application of digital technology, have impressed them deeply. They have learned from China and applied it to all parts of the world.
"There is no doubt that we will still see the continued development of China." Gao Xiang, President and CEO of BMW Group Greater China, said for example that this year China has promoted large-scale equipment updates and the replacement of old consumer goods. It is obvious that under the influence of policies, China The consumer market will maintain a healthy growth trend in the long term.
At the meeting, the main leaders of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and other departments also released new policy signals. Analysis predicts that the next policy step will mainly focus on accelerating the development of new productive forces, expanding high-level opening up, and focusing on improving high-quality development.
Data map. Photo by Li Heping
Dynamic New, “Breaking through in the Chinese market seeking high-quality development”
The holding of this annual meeting coincides with the conclusion of the National Two Sessions. This year's Chinese government work report lists "vigorously promoting the construction of a modern industrial system and accelerating the development of new productive forces" as the first of the ten tasks of the government in 2024.
The entire venue was filled with new ideas about China's economic development, and China is also willing to share the new opportunities brought by high-quality development with investors from all over the world.
Yili Ni, chairman of McKinsey China, said that many multinational companies have begun to embark on new layouts based on the changes brought about by China's high-quality development to adapt to the increasingly competitive market environment. "Enterprises are working hard to realize product innovation, channel transformation and other business adjustments, striving to make good corporate value propositions and break through in the Chinese market that is seeking high-quality development."
Regarding China's development dividends, Zheng Shajie believes that China's cultivation and development of new productive forces and promotion of high-quality development will provide domestic and foreign investors with unlimited market opportunities and extremely broad development prospects.
"We have noticed that China places equal importance on accelerating the development of new productive forces, which makes innovation and sustainable development an important engine for economic and social development." AstraZeneca Global CEO Suboko believes that China's commitment to The increasing emphasis on innovation and sustainable development, as well as the world-class business environment, have provided support for the development of multinational companies in China and given AstraZeneca confidence in the future.
According to Abbott Chairman and CEO Robert Law, advances in digital technology have created unprecedented possibilities for medical care. People can get the medical services they need anytime and anywhere, and its personalization and convenience help reduce the total cost of medical care.
Innovation, development, openness and cooperation have become high-frequency words spoken by senior executives of foreign companies. As conveyed by the theme of this year's annual meeting "Sustainable Development of China", an open, prosperous and developing China will surely make the voice of innovation and development sound louder and the road to open cooperation will become wider and wider. (over)