Editor's Note: As China steps up efforts to boost domestic demand and drive consumption-led growth, foreign corporations are uniquely positioned to seize the opportunities presented by this transformative period. China Daily examines how these companies are aligning with China's new round of high-standard opening-up policies, embracing emerging tech innovation trends and expanding their presence in a market that increasingly values high-quality development and upgraded consumption.

Q1 The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) draft recommendations emphasize high-quality development and the modernization of industrial systems. How do you view China's long-term economic resilience and growth potential? How will your company seize opportunities in the Chinese market to achieve shared growth with China's economy?

Xu: China's economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and vitality, and we remain confident in its long-term prospects. As the 15th Five-Year Plan approaches, the country is accelerating the development of a modern industrial system, driving profound transformation in its manufacturing sector toward digitalization, intelligence and sustainability. We see rising demand among enterprises for flexible manufacturing, lean management, product customization and green development, all of which present new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

China has always been one of Omron's most important strategic markets. Guided by our global vision, "Shaping the Future 2030", we are focusing on three key objectives: realizing a digital society, achieving carbon neutrality and extending healthy life expectancy.

We will continue to deepen localization, integrate more closely into China's industrial ecosystem and help unleash new quality productive forces. For example, China now hosts Omron's largest global base for its industrial automation business.

Ozawa: The 15th Five-Year Plan's emphasis on high-quality development and establishment of a modernized industrial system provides clear strategic direction for foreign-funded enterprises in China. We maintain strong confidence in the long-term resilience of the Chinese economy, where its unparalleled market scale, mature industrial ecosystems and continuously optimized business environment provide a proven foundation for innovation and growth.

Canon remains deeply rooted in China, and for the future development in the Chinese market, we maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook overall. Guided by the principles of revenue expansion and cost control, we will actively explore potential new business opportunities while prudently managing environmental uncertainties to ensure sustainable corporate growth. We are committed to aligning strategic opportunities across multiple fronts by integrating Canon's business development with the advancement of the Chinese society.

We will further intensify investments across our four business pillars including printing, medical, imaging and industry by converging cutting-edge technologies. This initiative aligns global innovations with China's industrial upgrading priorities to accelerate the development of China's modernized industrial system.

Cui: Over the past decade, Aveva has been deeply involved in the market and has strongly felt China's long-term economic resilience and growth potential. We have benefited from China's smart manufacturing boom and contributed to the digital transformation and national standards development in key industrial sectors. We are fully confident in the new journey toward high-quality development led by the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period marks a critical stage, from laying solid foundations to achieving tangible results. Aveva will continue to stay in tune with China's development, advancing shoulder to shoulder with our Chinese customers under our core strategy of "In China, For China". The plan highlights the need to "upgrade traditional industries and foster the growth of emerging and future industries", indicating vast potential for further advancement.

Q2 The plan calls for advancing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and fostering new quality productive forces. How do you view China's policy direction in innovation and emerging industries? How will your company's R&D or technological innovation in China align with and contribute to this development process?

Xu: China's manufacturing sector is at a critical stage of high-quality development, marked by rapid digital, intelligent and green transformation. This creates strong demand for flexible production, efficient management and sustainable operations, areas where Omron's automation technologies can make a tangible contribution.

We are deepening cooperation with Chinese enterprises in digital upgrading and green manufacturing, helping to improve efficiency while ensuring quality and reducing energy consumption. Looking ahead, Omron will focus on three priorities in China: advancing digital and intelligent manufacturing solutions, supporting low-carbon production and strengthening local innovation and industrial collaboration.

Ozawa: We recognize China's strategic prioritization of technological innovation as fundamental to its modernization drive, with special emphasis on developing new quality productive forces. This aligns with Canon's corporate DNA of "Emphasis on Technology" and our commitment to creating societal value through technological innovation.

Canon actively investigates market trends and listens to the voices of customers to deliver innovative products, cutting-edge technologies and tailored services that fulfill the needs and exceed the expectations of Chinese customers. In the consumer segment, we prioritize user-centric design and technological innovation tailored to Gen Z's preference for trend-driven solutions, while addressing senior customers' demand for intuitive operations and accessibility. Moving forward, Canon's R&D and innovation initiatives in China will closely align with China's technological advancement priorities.

We are committed to integrating core technologies in optical imaging and other sectors with cutting-edge advancements in AI, big data and cloud computing, delivering technologies, products, solutions and services tailored for the Chinese market.

Cui: China's designation of new quality productive forces as the core driver of high-quality development reflects the nation's forward-looking strategy toward technological innovation and industrial upgrading. Aveva fully aligns with this direction and is actively integrating its global innovation system into China's scientific and technological advancement.

The plan emphasizes advancing the development of Digital China, promoting deep integration of the real and digital economies, implementing the industrial internet innovation and development initiative, and fully launching the AI Plus action plan. Aveva's technological roadmap is highly consistent with these national priorities, empowering customers across multiple industrial sectors to drive innovation.

Over the past two years, Aveva has continued to expand its investment in China, accelerating the practical application of AI in industrial scenarios. We are committed to strengthening the foundation for China's industrial digital ecosystem, enabling customers to adopt industrial intelligence technologies more efficiently and seamlessly. Since the beginning of this year, we have established the Aveva China intelligent innovation center and achieved compatibility certification for several products with domestic software and hardware systems.

Q3 China is committed to high-level opening-up and high-quality cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative. How do you view China's role in global industrial and supply chains? How does your company position itself as a key participant in China's new pattern of openness?

Xu: China plays an increasingly vital role in global industrial and supply chains. Over the years, Omron has built a complete value chain in China, from R&D and production, to sales and services, making the country one of the key hubs of our global operations.

By combining global technologies with local partnerships, we are helping Chinese industries accelerate digital and intelligent transformation. Moving forward, we will continue to contribute to high-quality manufacturing and a more digital, green and intelligent future for China and beyond.

Ozawa: China is a pivotal node in global industrial and supply chains. Its sustained commitment to high-level opening-up and the Belt and Road Initiative strengthens international economic collaboration while expanding market access for businesses operating in China. Meanwhile, standardization alignment represents a crucial component in advancing supply chain globalization. China's dedication to building a market-oriented, rule-based and international business environment reinforces our confidence in the market's long-term growth potential.

Canon, as one of the earliest multinational entrants to the Chinese market, has sustained a track record of facilitating Sino-Japanese economic and technological collaboration. Through multi-dimensional operational practices, we are actively driving bilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, committed to becoming a trusted partner in China's open development.

We promote bilateral industrial collaboration in high-end manufacturing and green technologies while maintaining robust innovation resource flows between our global network and Chinese operations. Our China-anchored ecosystem encompassing R&D, manufacturing and services, aligns strategically with China's economic priorities. Through rigorous supplier management and capability building initiatives, we collaborate with domestic partners to build an efficient and globally competitive value chain.

Cui: China's continued advancement of high-level opening-up and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative have not only strengthened its role as a key node in the global supply chain, but also created greater space for deeper collaboration between Chinese and international enterprises. In this process, energy conservation and carbon reduction have evolved from policy requirements into core elements of industrial competitiveness, becoming an essential "passport" for Chinese companies to go global and participate in international competition.

As a digital transformation partner, Aveva is actively engaging in China's broader openness agenda. Leveraging our global digital platforms and extensive project experience, we help Chinese industrial enterprises enhance compliance capabilities in overseas markets, strengthen supply chain resilience and improve cross-regional collaboration efficiency. We also support the alignment of their green production capabilities with international standards, enabling them to build sustainable competitive advantages in the global market. Together with our Chinese partners, Aveva contributes to BRI projects through diverse collaboration models, achieving mutual growth and shared success.

Q4 The plan underscores green development and shared prosperity. How does your company pursue sustainable operations in China while contributing to Chinese society, local partnerships and inclusive growth?

Xu: At Omron, we create corporate value by generating social value through our business activities. Our long-term strategy identifies three social priorities and five key focus areas of sustainability, based on our corporate philosophy, a forward-looking view of society in 2030 and beyond and evolving expectations for corporate responsibility. Among these, decarbonization and environmental impact reduction are central themes.

We approach these goals as both opportunities and responsibilities — strengthening competitiveness while fulfilling our social commitments. Omron is one of the first Japanese manufacturers to join the international energy productivity initiative EP100, and we aim to achieve carbon neutrality across the entire value chain, including our customers and partners.

Ozawa: Canon's sustainability and corporate social responsibility practices are rooted in our philosophy of mutual prosperity. In China, we holistically integrate economic growth with environmental stewardship and social progress. Canon China has published annual sustainability reports since 2009 for 16 consecutive years, systematically demonstrating accountability through transparent, strategic disclosures that align with the evolving stakeholder expectations. Canon reaffirms our enduring commitment to staying with China and never leaving from China, steadfastly advancing long-term sustainable development strategies. As our business evolves, we remain dedicated to advancing synergies between corporate development and societal progress in China.

Canon is advancing toward our "Action for Green" vision with a clear roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions across product lifecycles by 2050. Through our "Minimum Energy 360" action, we embed energy-saving and carbon reduction principles into all operational aspects. We also prioritize reducing single-use plastics and adopting recycled materials in packaging.

Canon's "Imaging for Good" strategy centers on cultural preservation, environmental conservation, educational empowerment, humanitarian aid and community engagement.

Cui: We firmly believe that business success and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin. Together with our ecosystem partners, we provide green solutions for carbon footprint management and optimization, always taking our customers' measurable carbon reduction achievements as a key indicator of our shared impact. At the same time, we lead by example — by 2024, Aveva had reduced its own operational carbon emissions by an impressive 93 percent.

We have also launched the internal "Aveva Green New Logo Program", encouraging our teams to prioritize support for industries that play a critical role in building low-carbon energy systems. In doing so, we align our corporate strategy closely with China's broader goals for green development, creating tangible value not only for our business, but also for local partnerships and inclusive growth in China.

In practice, our green solutions help make operations more transparent through data visibility, enabling multi-energy complementarity to maximize the use of renewable energy. Through refined material management, we help customers optimize material utilization from the design phase. Meanwhile, our simulation and optimization solutions analyze plant energy efficiency in real time, ensuring energy consumption reaches its optimal state.

Q5 China's new "Shopping in China" initiative is part of a broader drive to deepen opening-up and boost inbound consumption. From your perspective, how does this program reshape opportunities for companies operating in China's consumer market, and what would you recommend travelers visiting the country have on their "must-buy" list?

Ozawa: The "Shopping in China" initiative reflects China's commitment to higher-level opening-up. For foreign corporations, the policy signals more than increased foot traffic and sales, it underscores the imperative to offer globally competitive products and services to succeed in the Chinese market. It compels us to re-examine and enhance consumer experiences, leveraging our strengths as a global enterprise to provide convenience and assurance for foreign visitors' spending in China.

Moreover, the implementation and refinement of duty-free policies have demonstrated significant potential in stimulating foreign tourists' purchasing power. We anticipate sustained improvements in duty-free administrative processes to elevate transactional convenience and consumer experience, thereby accelerating inbound consumption growth.

Having lived and worked in China for over two decades, I would recommend cultural-creative products that blend traditional heritage with modern trends. These innovations, which are popular globally among young consumers, showcase Chinese culture's enduring vitality. Chinese-made electronic products with high cost-effectiveness and technological innovation are also worth considering. The diverse culinary experiences integral to exploring China should not be overlooked. China's consumer landscape now extends beyond physical goods to experiential offerings. Seamless omnichannel payment solutions exemplify the most visible evolution of the country's consumption ecosystem. Of course, Canon cameras remain essential travel companions, transforming fleeting moments into timeless keepsakes that authentically preserve your China journey.

Cui: The "Shopping in China" initiative is elevating market quality standards and consumer expectations, driving China's consumption market toward value-driven, high-quality growth. As a digital transformation partner for industrial enterprises, Aveva is committed to empowering local manufacturers. Through advanced production monitoring and value chain optimization, we help businesses enhance operational efficiency and product quality with precision, strengthening their competitiveness amid market shifts and enabling them to seize industrial upgrading opportunities brought by the "Shopping in China" policy.

"Must-buy" items include buying a Labubu and also experiencing firsthand the wonders of the very latest technology being incorporated into the wide variety of NEVs (new energy vehicles) currently available in the country. What impressed me most about the evolution of China's consumer market is the rise of cultural confidence and the widespread adoption of seamless mobile payments. Guochao brands perfectly integrate traditional aesthetics with modern design, reflecting an identity shift from "Made in China" to "Created in China". Meanwhile, the effortless mobile payment ecosystem has reshaped daily consumption with unprecedented efficiency — together defining a unique form of "Chinese-style innovation".