Global experts and CEOs attending the China Development Forum (CDF) 2026 in Beijing from Sunday to Monday spoke highly of China's economic growth, openness policies and innovation capabilities.

Renowned American economist Jeffrey Sachs, professor at Columbia University, told CMG that China will maintain strong development momentum because it has chosen the path of innovation. Noting that three of the world's six major innovation clusters are in China, Sachs said this provides tremendous momentum for the country and contributes significantly to the global economy. He added that it also fosters optimism worldwide about the coming years.

Marc N. Casper, chairman and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific, highlighted that China places great importance on promoting high-quality economic development as a core mission, while continuing to expand investments in a more open market over the coming years. Casper noted that Thermo Fisher has been operating in China for 40 years, investing substantial resources in building a Healthy China initiative and an innovation ecosystem.

Wendell P. Weeks, CEO of Corning Incorporated, told CGTN that "there is so much new opportunity, so many new things happening, whether it's in the AI space, the material space. China is an excellent market if you are the best in the world at what you do."

Ola Kallenius, chairman of the management board of Mercedes-Benz, told CGTN that "We've been here for a long, long time. It's a very important market for us, not just form a market point of view, also as a production hub and as an innovation hub."

Kallenius said his company is investing for the long-term future.

Adam Tooze, professor of Columbia University, said in an interview with Global Times that premier Li Qiang's speech at the forum presented a rather optimistic picture of global development.

Tooze said that this sense of optimism emphasized the possibility of achieving win-win outcomes.

Roland Busch, president and CEO of Siemens, described CDF as "a unique opportunity to understand China's policy priorities, economic development, and future plans." 

Noting that participating in this forum over the long term helps Siemens continuously deepen its understanding of China's development strategy and provides opportunities for direct communication with policymakers, clients, and partners, Busch said it is also an important platform for in-depth discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence, innovation, sustainable development and industrial transformation – issues that are not only relevant to China but also to the future of the world."