China's development blueprint seen boosting opportunities for MNCs

China's push for promoting high-quality development and fostering new quality productive forces during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period will create substantial opportunities for multinational corporations, a top company executive said.

"An increasing number of multinational companies have realized that a successful footprint in the Chinese market is vital to their global competitiveness," said Cui Jingyi, vice-president of UK-based industrial software developer Aveva and head of Aveva China.

"The Chinese market has become a 'global fitness center' where we can prove our mettle, test ideas across diverse real-world scenarios and make our innovations become execution, strengthening what we bring to the global arena," Cui said in a recent exclusive interview with China Daily.

China's development blueprint for the next five years offers what Cui described as a "tangible opportunity list" for foreign companies seeking deeper participation in the country's economic transformation.

Rooted in China's broader economic and social development plans, the list aligns closely with the nation's push for high-quality development and the acceleration of new quality productive forces, signaling that foreign investment opportunities are shifting toward deeper involvement in building China's modern industrial system.

"As an established industrial software company with nearly 60 years of history, Aveva is committed to helping enterprises strengthen their supply-side capabilities," Cui said. "By leveraging digitalization and industrial intelligence to enhance efficiency, quality and sustainability, we are actively stepping into the arena to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces and boost China's high-quality development."

Having operated in China since 1996, Aveva has witnessed the country's industrial transition from high-speed growth to a focus on quality and innovation. Cui said the company now serves more than 5,000 customers in China and works with over 100 local partners.

"We have been deeply involved in the transition of China's industry from high-speed growth to high-quality development," she said. "Participating in and empowering the digital and intelligent transformation of China's industry, we adhere to long-termism and continue to increase our investment in local research and development, talent and ecosystem development."

Today, China plays a key role within Aveva's global innovation network. "Within Aveva's global footprint, China is one of our global innovation hubs," Cui said. With its rich industrial scenarios, comprehensive industrial system and advantages in talent and policy support, the country serves as a testing ground for large-scale applications of cutting-edge technologies.

The company plans to deepen its engagement with China's industrial upgrading during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. "We will remain steadfast in practicing our 'In China, for China' strategy: focusing on industrial upgrading opportunities in sectors like new energy and advanced materials during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and deeply participating in the construction of a modern industrial system," she said.

Cui also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in industrial transformation. As China's "AI Plus" initiative moves toward practical applications, industrial AI is increasingly combining general models with specialized industrial knowledge to improve engineering efficiency, asset reliability and energy optimization.

"Aveva focuses on industrial AI, combining advanced AI with industrial knowledge to build controllable and trustworthy industrial intelligence," she said.

The integration of industrial intelligence and sustainability is another priority, particularly as China advances its carbon reduction goals. Cui said AI-driven industrial intelligence will assist customers in optimizing energy efficiency and emission reductions while simultaneously boosting productivity. "We are committed to using AI-driven insights to help Chinese customers achieve genuine green transformation alongside productivity enhancements."

Despite the challenging global environment, Cui said the company remains confident in the resilience of China's economy. "We believe that the structural dividends of the Chinese market's long-term development will continue to be unleashed and benefit the world."

Looking at 2026, she said China's deepening reforms and high-standard opening-up will also provide stronger confidence for multinational companies developing in China.

Aveva said its strategy remains firmly rooted in long-term investment and innovation in China. " We firmly believe that China is far more than just a crucial market; it is a wellspring of global innovation and a core engine driving growth."Cui said.

Denis Depoux, global managing director at German management consultancy Roland Berger, said China remains pivotal for multinational companies. "It is not only a big market, but also increasingly a source of innovation and competitiveness. It is an opportunity for MNCs to strengthen global competitiveness and turn the China challenge into a strategic advantage across global operations."

ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn