The national economy achieved a positive start in the first quarter of 2026. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on the 16th shows that China's preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter reached 33.4193 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.0% calculated at constant prices. Recently, international institutions have revised their forecasts for China's economic growth upwards, and several multinational corporate executives have also expressed continued confidence in the Chinese market during interviews.
The Asian Development Bank recently raised its growth forecast for China, citing export resilience and high-tech investment as the main drivers of economic expansion. In a report released on the 10th, the ADB increased its 2026 growth projection for China to 4.6%. The report also noted that exports and high-tech investment in strategic sectors will continue to be key growth drivers in the short term, partially offsetting uncertainties from weak consumption and the Middle East situation.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on high-tech manufacturing and industry, and the global competitiveness of China's high-value-added exports is expected to continue strengthening. Asif S. Cheema, Chief Representative of the Asian Development Bank's China Resident Mission, stated, "Exports, along with investment in advanced manufacturing and services, are expected to continue supporting economic growth."
A recent report from the American consulting firm Kearney shows that China rose two places to rank fourth globally in its 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index. China's leading position in artificial intelligence and its vast domestic market are identified as its main attractions. Junjie Watkins, a partner at Pictet Group, commented that China provides "certainty" in an uncertain environment, which is attributed to its long-term development planning.
China's economic prospects have not only gained recognition from international financial institutions but are also attracting increased investment from numerous multinational corporations. German anchoring systems supplier Fischer remains optimistic about the Chinese market's prospects and will continue to expand its investment. CEO Alexander Bässler pointed out that China is one of the world's most dynamic and forward-looking markets, with significant growth potential in areas such as digitalization, smart infrastructure, sustainable construction, and high-tech industries.
Bässler emphasized that this capital increase deepens local production capabilities and customer cooperation, demonstrating the company's long-term confidence in the Chinese market. "China is both a key strategic market and an important source of innovation, as well as our sales center, production base, and crucial R&D cooperation hub," he said. Fischer adheres to a long-term localization strategy and views China as an important learning platform, continuously gaining innovative experience through ongoing exchange and cooperation.
Similarly, British industrial software developer AVEVA, which has also deeply cultivated the Chinese market, views it as an "innovation testing ground." Its China head, Cui Jingyi, stated that China's diverse application scenarios and well-developed industrial ecosystem provide an excellent testing ground for technology implementation, making it a key venue for validating innovation and enhancing global competitiveness. Since entering China in 1996, AVEVA has served over 5,000 clients. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the company plans to firmly advance its "In China, For China" strategy, focusing on key industrial upgrade areas like new energy and advanced materials. It aims to contribute to the formation of new quality productive forces through digital and industrial intelligence technologies, achieving a "mutual pursuit" with China's high-quality development.
Numerous other industry leaders have also expressed their emphasis on and commitment to the Chinese market.
Karen Chen, Head of China for the Singapore Exchange Group's Global Sales and Markets department, believes that China is a key engine for global economic growth, and continuous policy support helps stabilize market confidence. As global asset allocation demands diversify, the attractiveness of Chinese assets has significantly increased. She stated that SGX continues to observe strong interest from global investors seeking exposure to Chinese and Asian assets through international markets. In the future, SGX will continue to promote cross-border investment and two-way opening.
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