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?

Shimizu: The long-term economic resilience of China's economy stems from the domestic demand potential of the market, the advantages of a complete industrial supply chain, and the continuous deepening of the opening-up policy. China's 15th Five-Year Plan continues to advocate for high-quality development, which not only points out the direction for economic upgrading, but also creates more development opportunities for foreign enterprises in China. Muji highly values these opportunities. We will continue to deepen our localization strategy: align with green development through natural materials and resource recycling, deeply understand the needs of Chinese consumers, integrate into local culture and craftsmanship, and grow together with China's modern industrial system through high-quality products and services. We will contribute to delivering long-term value for people's better lives.

Xia: China's long-term economic resilience is underpinned by its vast domestic market, robust industrial base and strategic policy direction toward high-quality development. The 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes industrial modernization, innovation, and sustainability — areas where Evonik is well-positioned to contribute and grow.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we see significant opportunities in strategic sectors such as new energy, environmental protection, advanced manufacturing and consumer-driven innovation. We will continue to invest in expanding production capacity in key locations such as Shanghai, Nanjing in Jiangsu province and Leshan in Sichuan province to support China's green manufacturing. Innovation tailored to local needs is central to our strategy, with investment in new innovation facilities to accelerate local R&D and serve the broader Asian market.

Li: China's economy demonstrates long-term resilience and growth potential, evidenced by several key factors. First, export structures are diversifying, with strong growth in markets like the European Union, ASEAN and Africa, and double-digit growth in high-tech exports. This reflects the economy's ability to adapt to external pressures. Moreover, China is prioritizing urban renewal as a new economic engine, shifting from quantity-driven expansion to quality-focused asset revitalization. Technological advancements in areas like AI and data centers are becoming major growth drivers, with emerging opportunities in the country's developing regions.

CBRE is seizing the opportunities presented by this upgrading economy, enhancing efficiency through cross-regional and cross-business collaboration, and actively serving newly emerging demands. We are also partnering deeply with local governments to provide expert services and advice, supporting high-quality industrial innovation and coordinated development.

Sterel: China's economy continues to show resilience and adaptability as it moves toward high-quality growth. While progress differs across sectors, the focus on industrial upgrading and efficiency closely aligns with Vaillant's commitment to reliable engineering and comfort solutions. As living standards rise and expectations for better home environments grow, we see opportunities to contribute through our strengths in system design, product quality and local collaboration. We remain confident in China's long-term potential and are committed to steady, responsible growth.

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?

Shimizu: In recent years, China has achieved leapfrog innovation in the internet of things and artificial intelligence. Many original technologies and solutions not only originate here, but also lead the world. This breakthrough not only allows us to clearly see the robust vitality and immense potential of China's development, but also makes us feel the profound shifts in market demand. Beyond the new technologies, people's pursuit of lifestyles is accelerating toward higher quality and greater comfort, with needs that are not only diverse, but also evolving rapidly. As a foreign brand rooted in China, Muji takes delight in such a dynamic market and the diverse needs of consumers. Looking ahead, we will continue to respond agilely to changes in Chinese consumers' needs through local co-creation and R&D in China. At the same time, we will always uphold the brand's original aspiration of "The Power of Nature", ensuring our products not only align with local lifestyles, but also maintain the core values of simplicity and sustainability.

Xia: China's policy direction toward scientific and technological self-reliance and the development of new quality productive forces is highly aligned with Evonik's innovation strategy, which is centered on sustainability. We see three strong signals from China's innovation agenda — clearer innovation orientation, stronger green transformation and higher openness.

Evonik is responding by reinforcing its local innovation ecosystem. We are building a robust network centered around our Shanghai innovation park, which includes multiple technology centers and focuses on key areas such as hydrogen energy, advanced manufacturing and healthcare. Our newly opened medical device competence center in Shanghai serves the entire Asia region. In early 2026, we plan to inaugurate both the Asia hydrogen center and the Asia skin research center, further strengthening our local innovation footprint.

Li: China's economy is undergoing a powerful trajectory of upgrading. As the nation transitions its economic drivers, technological innovation and consumer upgrades are key to unlocking high-quality growth, which also illuminates the path for the commercial real estate market in which CBRE operates. Strategic emerging industries, such as AI, biotechnology and high-end equipment manufacturing, are rapidly growing, creating renewed demand for office and industrial spaces that could support their further development.

At CBRE, we're also transforming commercial real estate through intelligent AI solutions to optimize investments, streamline operations and empower our workforce. Our in-house-developed design and visualization technology "CBRE Plans" transforms the historically slow, costly and cumbersome process of space design, programming and visualization into one that is agile and efficient.

Sterel: China is already a highly innovative nation with a dynamic, fast-evolving ecosystem. The focus on developing new quality productive forces and applied technologies sets a clear direction for long-term competitiveness. In China, Vaillant's strong R&D center enables us to combine global expertise and local insights, delivering a consistent, high-quality experience to consumers. Our goal is to turn engineering progress into everyday reliability that supports both industry and people's comfort around the world.

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?

Shimizu: China is not only the world's largest demand market, but also a highly competitive production base. Its complete and efficient industrial supply chain provides critical support for the stability of the global industry. Muji greatly values the solid foundation of a comprehensive industrial supply chain and the open development landscape that the Chinese market offers. Since fully advancing its localization strategy in 2019, Muji has focused on promoting the implementation of "full-chain localization" by collaborating with high-quality local partners to jointly advance the R&D and sales of locally developed products. Looking ahead, we will further deepen and expand the scope of cooperation with China's supply chain, striving to become an active force in driving the high-quality development of China's consumer sector and deeply integrating into the broader landscape of China's open development.

Xia: In 2024, China accounted for 42 percent of global chemical output, surpassing the combined output of the United States, Japan and Germany. China continues to play a pivotal role in global industrial and supply chains — not only as the world's largest chemical producer, but also as a strategic partner in high-end and green transformation.

Evonik wants to grow with the Chinese market; therefore, we are increasing our local footprint by continuously expanding production capacities and innovation capabilities in the region, especially for sustainable products, with a focus on strategic industries such as e-mobility, renewable energy and healthcare. Specifically, we want to raise China's share of global revenue from approximately 10 percent now to 15 percent by 2030. We also seek deeper cooperation with local partners and explore new business models, such as joint ventures and venture capital investment.

Li: China is moving up in global supply chains, and its role is becoming even more critical. Once valued for low costs, China's appeal now lies in industrial efficiency, innovation and talent. China has been the world's largest consumer and producer of industrial robots for many consecutive years and boasts world-leading technological capabilities in industrial automation, intelligent manufacturing, new energy vehicles and other fields. China has become a global innovation hub and a key hub in the value chain.

CBRE, a global real estate firm, has operated in China for nearly 40 years. We support multinational companies to localize and grow in China. We also assist Chinese enterprises in strengthening their operations and expanding their presence within the domestic and global markets through our integrated advisory, investment and transaction services. CBRE is playing a key role in promoting innovation, optimizing resource allocation, and fostering international cooperation in China's opening-up environment.

Sterel: As a global company, we see open and efficient supply networks as essential to bringing quality products to consumers on time and at a fair cost. Global supply chains are becoming more diversified, and China plays a central role with its mature industrial base and strong logistics capability. China's continued openness has enhanced global connectivity and industrial collaboration. This openness supports shared progress across industries and helps companies like ours better operate in multiple markets.

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

Shimizu: Muji has always conducted its business operations with "The Power of Nature" as its core brand philosophy. We respect nature and adhere to using natural materials or producing products in ways that avoid excessive disruption to nature. At the same time, we advocate using the fewest resources to create a better life. Therefore, sustainable development is not only our original aspiration, but also the core principle guiding our business operations. In China, we have consistently put this into practice. Represented by hemp cultivation in Heilongjiang province and the recycling and utilization of ocean-bound plastic, we deeply tap into local natural endowments and jointly build green supply chains with local partners. This reduces resource waste in the production process and injects momentum into regional economic development. Additionally, Muji empowers local communities by investing in production equipment, thereby building local capacity and improving quality. Looking ahead, Muji will continue to uphold the concept of inclusiveness and adopt a green business model to contribute to common prosperity.

Xia: Sustainability has always been a core focus for Evonik — and it is fully embedded in our corporate strategy. We focus on three growth areas: bio-based solutions, the energy transition and the circular economy. This strategy is closely aligned with China's sustainable development goals and is taking shape through a series of high-impact initiatives. For example, our new specialty-grade hydrogen peroxide plant in Leshan is designed to serve key industries such as solar panels, semiconductors and food packaging, supporting China's green manufacturing transformation.

Beyond environmental sustainability, we are also actively contributing to local development and rural vitalization of China. For example, using our membrane technology, we supported one of China's largest livestock waste treatment projects. The initiative converts agricultural waste into bio-natural gas and organic fertilizer, improving rural living conditions and supporting green industry development.

Li: At CBRE, we aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. This commitment applies not only to our own operations and the properties we manage for owners and tenants, but also to indirect carbon emissions from our supply chain. CBRE plays a key role in driving the built environment toward a more sustainable future, as we provide integrated "green" solutions to a vast variety of clients.

Beyond sustainable real estate endeavors, we also run "Project Green" in China, a social responsibility program supporting the environment and communities. Over the past three years, we have pledged 30,000 trees in China's desertified areas, and have also volunteered to work in the desert to support sand control. In the past 18 years, we have donated more than 2 million yuan ($281,400) to fund surgeries for more than 120 children with congenital heart disease.

Sterel: Sustainability is fundamental to Vaillant's long-term vision. In China, we focus on developing efficient heating systems, reducing carbon emissions and fostering partnerships that support local development. We also engage with local communities through education and environmental initiatives, because we believe that business growth should bring wider social benefits. By combining sustainable technologies and fair collaboration, we aim to support China's green transition and inclusive development in the long term.

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?

Shimizu: China's "Shopping in China" initiative is not only a critical measure to boost inbound consumption, but also builds a unique bridge for multinational corporations like us to feed back China-exclusive products into the global market. The diverse and segmented customer needs in the Chinese market have always provided Muji with a steady stream of R&D momentum. Currently, we have launched a number of China-exclusive products, such as phone cases compatible with multiple models, summer breeze bedding and traditional Chinese medicine-inspired herbal teas. Today, we can accurately assess the market acceptance of these products through their sales data in China, which provides a critical basis for subsequently rolling them out to global markets.

If I were visiting China as a traveler, I would choose items that carry cultural warmth, practical value and reflections of local innovation. We are committed to learning from Chinese culture and wisdom and integrating them into our products. I was particularly impressed by the cultural derivatives from the Henan Museum and the Sanxingdui Museum, such as the Ru kiln porcelain from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and the bronze masks.

Xia: As a global chemical company, Evonik's products are contributing to making life better, quietly but powerfully, behind the scenes. In the fast-evolving beauty and personal care sector, China is becoming one of the most vibrant innovation hubs globally. Evonik supports this sector by providing innovative ingredients and sustainable technologies that help promising Chinese brands make the leap from quality domestic products to global brands. China is leading the world in many consumer sectors — from smart devices and electric vehicles to beauty tech and outdoor gear. If I were visiting China from abroad, I'd definitely pick up a drone — they're sleek, smart and globally leading in performance. What's cooler is that Evonik's high-performance materials are actually used inside to make them lighter and fly longer.

Li: With China's retail sales nearing 49 trillion yuan in 2024, it stands as the world's second-largest consumer market. "Shopping in China" is poised to further unlock this vast domestic market through integrated culture, tourism, sports and consumer activities. Retailers are actively expanding, evidenced by a surge in new store openings and creative concepts. CBRE is well-positioned to assist foreign brands to capitalize on local market trends — like outdoor sports, pet culture and novel lifestyle products — by customizing offerings and retail strategies to fit the preferences of consumers. The booming consumer market and the government's supportive policies are also making investments in retail, hotels and consumer infrastructure more attractive.

Sterel: The "Shopping in China" initiative reflects the growing global appeal of Chinese products and attractions, and the maturity of its consumer market. It highlights the greater emphasis on product value and user experience. For international companies, this creates a more demanding but also more rewarding environment, which values trust, quality and service. Such a direction further unlocks consumption potential and supports steady market growth. I'm most impressed with China's electric vehicles. They offer high quality, attractive design and great consumer experience.