By Han Lu

DALIAN, June 25 (China Economic Net) - As one of the world’s foremost gatherings of leaders held in China, the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, seeks to explore, from a more pragmatic perspective, pathways towards development and prosperity for China and the wider world amid profound global change.

China Economic Net spoke with business leaders and academics, despite their varied backgrounds, they agreed on a fundamental shift: multinationals are rethinking their view of China. Guided by the 15th Five-Year Plan, China is pushing ahead with new quality productive forces, AI industrialization, advanced manufacturing upgrades, and a green transition—offering a measure of certainty to a volatile global economy.

A Fundamental Shift in Multinational Companies’ Perceptions: From “World’s Factory” to “Innovation Partner”

“China used to be seen primarily as a base for inexpensive raw materials and basic manufacturing. Its industrial technology, however, has advanced enormously—not only in the automotive sector, but across the broader field of mobility, including high-speed rail, aviation and maritime transport. China is now providing mobility solutions on land, at sea and in the air, something that would once have been unimaginable.” Dr. Kilian Aviles, Executive Vice President of the German testing, inspection and certification group DEKRA and Head of its Asia-Pacific Region, used these words in an interview with China Economic Net to describe the “profound transformation” of China’s industrial ecosystem.

Aviles said that DEKRA initially entered China to provide testing services for international vehicle manufacturers. The speed of technological iteration in the Chinese market, however, compelled the company to move progressively upstream into the research and development value chain. “We have completely transformed our service portfolio in the Chinese mainland in order to keep pace with the extremely rapid revolution taking place here,” he said. “China speed is critical, and we have to adapt to the local market.”

Chafic Nassif, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area North East Asia at Ericsson, said that China’s unique combination of scale, speed of execution and an innovation-oriented industrial ecosystem gives the country a pivotal and unparalleled position in the global technology landscape.

Alexander Schellong, Executive Vice President of Germany’s Schwarz Group, was visiting China for the first time. He first shared a story to the reporter, “I recently attended a Bosch event in Berlin, where the focus was on embodied AI and robotics. Every robot and every new application presented at the event came from China,” he said. “China and several Chinese companies are already capable of manufacturing robots at scale, which is extremely impressive.”

In his view, China stands out in two respects. The first is “China speed.”“Everything operates quickly in China,” he said. “Innovation takes place very rapidly, and the environment is highly dynamic.” The second is China’s long-term vision.“Unlike Western systems, China clearly has a long-term vision and is willing to accept temporary setbacks,” Schellong said. “From an external perspective, this is highly distinctive.”

DEKRA has made similar observations: “China used to be regarded primarily as a source of low-cost raw materials and basic manufacturing,” the company noted. “Today, however, China is competing directly with established industry leaders in fields such as artificial intelligence, power generation and medical equipment. This is no longer merely a matter of price competitiveness; it reflects technological progress and innovation.”

China Injects Certainty into Global Economic Development

At a time when global economic growth is slowing and uncertainty has become the norm, China continues to demonstrate a rare degree of stability and predictability. This has created further opportunities for multinational companies seeking to deepen their presence in the Chinese market.

Tunde Laleye, Partner and China General Manager at BearingPoint, told China Economic Net that, against a background of significant global disruption and economic challenges, “the Chinese economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience.”,“Whether in the face of global tariff disputes or the recent energy and oil crisis, China has continued to advance its established plans and implement innovation,” Laleye said. “At the national level, clear plans and frameworks provide top-down support for innovation,” he added. “These are then deployed at the industrial level, allowing supply chains to develop and enabling companies to continuously accelerate the advancement of AI.”

Laleye further examined the issue from the perspective of China’s policy framework. “The 15th Five-Year Plan will create opportunities not only for Chinese companies, but also for foreign enterprises,” he said. “Foreign companies can benefit from the frameworks provided at both the national and industrial levels, expand their research and development activities in China, localize their supply chains and strengthen their resilience.”

This year's Summer Davos sends a clear signal: multinationals and scholars are now sizing up China not just by its scale, but by its innovation and green dividends. Underpinning this shift is the 15th Five-Year Plan's three-pronged framework—institutional opening, green transition, and Digital China. With the "AI Plus" initiative and new quality productive forces taking shape, China is countering global uncertainty with homegrown certainty.