Innovating locally for global scale

Q2 China's economy has demonstrated strong resilience so far this year, supported by resilient exports, solid industrial production and continued strength in high-tech manufacturing. How would you assess China's overall economic performance so far this year? Looking ahead, what do you see as the key drivers supporting China's growth in the second half?

ZHU: China has established a solid and resilient foundation for high-quality development and is off to a strong start in the current 15th Five-Year (2026-30) period. We believe China is on the right trajectory, supported by coordinated capital allocation, regulatory alignment and industrial mobilization. Progress has been made in priority areas including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, green energy and productivity. In an environment marked by constant change, focusing on technology, innovation and new growth models is the path forward. In technology, for example, we see policy intent, full-stack industrial capability and mass user adoption converging to drive AI into production at scale. Meanwhile, China is prioritizing the build-out of social infrastructure, including pensions, healthcare and eldercare, to support household spending. This will also help propel sustainable growth over time.

CHEN: From what we see on the ground, China's economy has shown strong resilience this year. Exports have stayed steady, industrial production remains solid and high-tech manufacturing continues to be a bright spot. For Syensqo, what matters most is not only the headline numbers, but also the clear direction: China is moving toward higher-quality growth driven by innovation, advanced manufacturing and greener development. Looking to the second half, I see several key drivers. First is continued industrial upgrading — especially in high-end manufacturing and tech-driven sectors. Second is the acceleration of energy transition, including electrification and more efficient use of energy and resources, which will drive demand for advanced materials. Third is ongoing digitalization and the adoption of AI across industries, which can lift productivity and speed up innovation.

MA: China's economy has shown strong resilience in the first half, supported by robust industrial capabilities, continued innovation, resilient exports and measures to stimulate consumption. These factors have helped sustain growth despite global uncertainties. Looking ahead, we believe consumption upgrading, digital innovation and the continued development of sectors such as sports, outdoor recreation and cultural tourism will be important drivers of growth. These trends are creating new opportunities for businesses while supporting China's transition toward high-quality development. For VF, the growing popularity of active and outdoor lifestyles presents significant opportunities to engage consumers through innovative products and experiences. Together with advances in digitalization and consumer engagement, these developments reinforce our confidence in China's long-term growth potential.

JIANG: China's economy has continued to demonstrate resilience despite a complex global environment. While external uncertainties remain, the country continues to benefit from its strengths in manufacturing, technology adoption, digital infrastructure and a highly dynamic consumer market. From Logitech's perspective, what stands out is not only the pace of growth, but the quality of growth. We continue to see strong momentum in areas closely connected to our business, including AI applications, smart devices, hybrid work, gaming and digital content creation. These are not short-term trends. They reflect fundamental changes in how people work, create, learn, play and connect.