Amid the deep winter chill, Beijing exudes a distinct warmth. On January 28, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing for an official visit, accompanied by over 60 prominent representatives from the UK's business and cultural sectors; on January 25, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo arrived in Beijing for a four-day official visit, leading a delegation of more than 20 corporate executives; previously, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien also visited China successively... Recently, numerous foreign dignitaries and businesses have been arriving in waves, collectively "looking east," which has attracted widespread attention. Recently, many international organizations have sounded "alarm bells" while assessing the global situation for 2026, indicating that the global economic outlook will face turbulence. Amid these changes, the world's gaze is focusing on the East, further highlighting China's increasingly strong "gravitational pull" within the global economic landscape. This "gravity" stems from the steady and forward-moving momentum of the Chinese economy. China's total economic output surpassed 140 trillion yuan in 2025, with GDP growing 5.0% year-on-year; during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's economy grew at an average annual rate of approximately 5.4%, contributing around 30% to global economic growth... This report card is remarkable. "The Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience and remains the largest contributor to global growth," remarked World Economic Forum President Børge Brende, echoing the consensus of many international institutions and industry insiders. Joe Ngai, Chairman of McKinsey China, expressed amazement that, facing a complex international environment, the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy have "exceeded everyone's expectations." Since late last year, several international institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have successively upgraded their growth forecasts for China, casting a "vote of confidence" in its economy. "The performance of the Chinese economy is very outstanding," said Asif Chima, Chief Representative of the Asian Development Bank's Resident Mission in China, in a recent exclusive interview. He added that policy measures introduced by the Chinese government are continuously taking effect, and he is very confident in China achieving its long-term economic growth targets. This "gravity" also originates from the surging dynamism of China's innovation-driven development. From the Chang'e-6 lunar probe's sample return from the far side of the moon and the C919 large passenger aircraft achieving commercial flight, to the "taking flight" of the low-altitude economy and the "dexterous agility" of embodied AI... Today's China is accelerating its transition from the "world's factory" to a "center of innovation." "Innovation capability will become China's third core advantage, alongside its massive production capacity and super-sized market, continuously attracting foreign investment to layout in China," "China demonstrates formidable R&D capabilities," "What impressed me most is China's performance in the field of artificial intelligence"... Such praise from international institutions and experts also indicates the vibrant innovation-driven development of the Chinese economy. In 2025, China ranked within the global top ten in the Global Innovation Index for the first time, with its R&D intensity reaching 2.8%, exceeding the average level of OECD countries for the first time. Nearly half of the "AI Application Stars" cases released by the World Economic Forum came from China; close to 40% of the globally recognized "Lighthouse Factories" are located in China. The observation by Sharon S. Irene, AstraZeneca's Executive Vice President, is quite representative: "China is not only a critically important strategic market but has also become a global hub for innovation." This "gravity" further stems from China's steadfast commitment to openness and mutual benefit. Eschewing wall-building, China diligently paves the way for cooperation. Against a backdrop of global challenges from unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying, China consistently acts as a practitioner of open cooperation, injecting certainty into the world through concrete actions. From the expansion of pilot free trade zones to the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, and from the China International Import Expo to the China International Fair for Trade in Services, China's door is opening ever wider. Over the past five years, China's cumulative imports of goods and services have exceeded $15 trillion, while its outward investment has contributed over $300 billion in tax revenue to host countries, generating substantial employment and fostering local development. The signing of multiple economic and trade outcome documents between China and the UK, several commercial agreements signed between Chinese and Finnish companies in Beijing, and the signing of the "China-Canada Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap"... a series of recent developments underscore China's commitment to open cooperation and its efforts to jointly enlarge the "pie" of collaboration. "China is presenting its image to the world as a reliable trade and investment partner"—this assessment by foreign media likens China to an "oasis of certainty" within an international environment filled with uncertainty. China's released proposals for the "15th Five-Year Plan" provide a top-level design and strategic blueprint for economic and social development over the next five years. Luigi Gambardella, President of ChinaEU, believes that China's emphasis on long-term planning and its commitment to advancing high-level opening-up provide a stable reference point for global economic cooperation. Open cooperation and mutual benefit represent the prevailing trend. A China possessing strong resilience and vitality, a China firmly embracing economic globalization, is increasingly becoming the common choice for parties to bridge differences. Moving forward together through challenges, the conviction that "partnering with China means partnering with opportunity" will resonate even more profoundly, continually illuminating the path ahead.
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