Foreign political and business leaders have voiced strong confidence in China's innovation-driven development and high-level opening-up, seeing the country's long-term planning as a catalyst for global cooperation. Their comments were made at a thematic briefing on the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Monday, which attracted over 160 international participants.

Meira Hot, vice-president of the National Assembly of Slovenia, said that the 15th Five-Year Plan is expected to further elaborate China's rapid innovation-driven development, while also placing greater emphasis on facilitating mutual investment between China and the rest of the world.

Ivan Racan, a member of the Croatian Parliament, said that he expects not just his country but many countries worldwide to continue cooperating with China in developing infrastructure and various technologies, especially artificial intelligence and IT. He said it is important to continue this cooperation and friendship, as they reinforce one another, adding that the alternative to friendship is fear, which would not be good for the world.

Pierre Mirochnikoff, vice-president of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in China, sees strong potential for EU-China collaboration in green technology and AI. He emphasized the Benelux region - Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg - is open to Chinese companies, and he believes that China's advanced technologies are a vital driver for mutual success and joint innovation.