Expert roundup at 'two sessions': Global analysts praise China's economic openness and reforms

As a key political event shaping the country's policy direction, this year's national "two sessions" has garnered significant overseas attention. The focus has been on China's efforts to boost its private sector, high-level opening up of its financial markets, nurturing of new drivers of productivity and acceleration of its green transition.

The government work report delivered on March 5 listed a series of measures aimed at expanding high-level openness, stabilizing foreign trade and investment, and spurring growth in cross-border e-commerce and innovative service trade. The report also called for developing green and digital trade, encouraging foreign investment and broadening pilot reforms in telecom, healthcare, and education. The economic targets listed in the government work report, particularly the headline 5 percent annual GDP growth target, have been featured prominently by international media.

Global trade has changed significantly in recent years, with South–South trade rapidly growing to replace traditional East–West routes, said Joseph Ngai, chairman of McKinsey China, in an interview with CGTN.

Following the 2025 UK–China Economic and Financial Dialogue co-chaired by Vice-Premier He Lifeng and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in January, The Times acknowledged challenges in UK–China ties but emphasized that deepening financial links with China will generate growth and jobs in Britain.

Eurasian Resources Group CEO Shukhrat Ibragimov noted that China is a key driver of the clean-energy transition and the world's largest consumer of minerals — a major opportunity for the natural resources sector.

Morgan Stanley's head of China Financial Research Richard Xu credited strong government support for China's 2024 shift to a technology- and innovation-led economic model. He said he expects further market-driven policies to sustain growth.

UBS Investment Bank's senior China economist Ning Zhang stressed that supporting private enterprises remains a top priority and predicted additional policy and legislative measures to bolster the private sector.

At a recent Politburo meeting of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese leaders called for proactive macroeconomic policies to expand domestic demand. China retains a significant edge in global manufacturing and holds vast potential in services, said Lu Ming, executive dean of the Shanghai Institute for National Economy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.