International experts highly evaluate the 2026 China Economic Half Year Report as an important engine for global innovation and a crucial partner for international cooperation
According to the recently released 2026 China Economic Half Year Report, the total GDP of China in the first half of this year was 69.6 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.7% calculated at constant prices. The Chinese economy has withstood pressure and operated within a reasonable range, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality. International sources interviewed by our reporter stated that in the current complex and turbulent international situation, the Chinese economy is generally stable and moving towards a new and better direction. It not only solidifies its own development foundation, but also injects certainty and new momentum into the world economic development through a complete industrial system, a super large market, and high-level opening up to the outside world.
Economic resilience is sufficient——
Consolidate the stable anchor position of world economic growth
Not long ago, the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for China's economic growth by 0.2 percentage points while lowering its forecast for world economic growth in 2026. The Asian Development Bank has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for developing economies in the Asia Pacific region while maintaining its growth forecast for China unchanged. International institutions generally have a positive outlook on China's economic prospects, highlighting China's increasingly stable position as a stable anchor for global economic growth.
The performance of the Chinese economy in the first half of the year was encouraging, fully demonstrating the strong resilience and endogenous driving force of the Chinese economy, "said Claudia Yanucci, President of the Brazilian China Innovation Economy Research Institute. The advantages of the Chinese economy are reflected in the continuous optimization of its economic structure, the increasing improvement of its innovation capabilities, and the continuous upgrading of its industrial system. China has continuously made breakthroughs in areas such as green development, digital economy, and industrial transformation, laying a solid foundation for long-term stable economic development.
Felix Valdivisso, director of the China Studies Center at IE University in Spain, said that the development achievements of the Chinese economy fully reflect its resilience and stability. "China continues to promote industrial structure transformation and upgrading through long-term planning, which explains why China can continuously consolidate its position as an important engine of world economic growth
The key to maintaining the resilience of the Chinese economy lies in promoting high-quality development with new quality productive forces, "said Enrique Dussel, an economics professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and director of the China Mexico Research Center." With the continued implementation of the 15th Five Year Plan, China will continuously enhance its innovation capabilities, improve its industrial competitiveness, and lay the foundation for long-term stable economic development
"I don't think the fundamentals of China's long-term economic growth will change, and it will continue to be an important engine of world economic growth." Tang Longgong, President of the the Belt and Road Economic and Educational Development Institute of Thailand, said that China's economic growth is driven more by scientific and technological innovation, industrial upgrading and consumption potential. The fields of new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and modern service industry are full of vitality. At the same time, macro policies maintain continuity and foresight, and the advantages of large-scale markets continue to be released, providing stable expectations for enterprises and investors.
Complete industrial system——
Assist more countries in integrating into the global value chain
According to Chinese customs statistics, in the first half of this year, China's exports of mechanical and electrical products increased by 20.1%, and exports of high-tech products increased by 39%. More and more high-end, intelligent, and green Chinese manufacturing is going overseas, significantly reducing the threshold for global application of new technologies. In the current era of deep adjustment of the global industrial chain, China's complete industrial system and abundant innovation capability are helping more countries build modern industrial systems through deeply integrated localized production and ecological co construction.
In recent years, China has continued to promote industrial upgrading, and emerging industries such as new energy and digital economy have developed rapidly. The competitiveness and risk resistance of the industrial system have been continuously enhanced. China's practice has proved that a complete and efficient industrial system can not only support the sustained development of its own economy, but also create more opportunities for other countries to upgrade their industries. Dussel said that China provides equipment and technology to developing countries, helps to enhance their industrial supporting capabilities and independent development capabilities, and provides important support for developing countries to promote industrialization, enhance industrial competitiveness, and better integrate into the global value chain.
In Thailand, more and more Chinese companies are not only bringing advanced equipment, key components, and green technologies, but also a complete industrial ecosystem and talent training system, helping Thailand accelerate the development of industries such as new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, and digital economy. Wu Sen Tilan Valley said that Chinese manufacturing is moving from scale advantage to innovation advantage, providing important support for the stable operation of the global supply chain. China adheres to the development direction of green, low-carbon, and technological innovation, providing more mature solutions and cost-effective products for global energy transformation and industrial upgrading. The current world situation is complex and ever-changing, and the risk of global supply chain fragmentation is increasing. China's high-quality development not only enhances the resilience of the world economy, but also boosts the international community's confidence in global economic recovery.
Yanucci believes that the rapid development of Chinese enterprises in fields such as new energy, intelligent manufacturing, and digital technology not only promotes their own industrial upgrading, but also provides new cooperation opportunities for many countries, including Brazil.
Over the past 20 years, Valdiviso has visited China multiple times. In his view, the Chinese economy emphasizes innovative development and demonstrates advantages in fields such as automation, artificial intelligence, and digitization, becoming an indispensable participant in the global value chain. The current global development of renewable energy, promotion of electric transportation, and industrial modernization all rely on the production and supply capabilities of Chinese enterprises.
Fast pace of opening up——
Joining hands with countries around the world to share new opportunities for development
In the first half of this year, China's import and export of goods increased by 16.9% year-on-year, with imports growing by 22.1%; The import and export of foreign-funded enterprises in China reached 7.39 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.1%, achieving growth for nine consecutive quarters. With the continuous release of the potential of a super large market and the advancement of high-level opening-up to the outside world, China not only provides greater "market dividends" to the world, but also contributes an increasing "innovation dividend". The vivid picture of "China Opportunities 2.0" is unfolding.
In May of this year, China fully implemented zero tariff measures for 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations. According to Kofi Kuaaku, Senior Researcher at the Africa China Studies Center at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, this policy significantly promotes economic and trade cooperation between Africa and China. In May and June of this year, China's imports from Africa increased by 23.5% year-on-year, and the import structure became more diversified. In addition to traditional African specialty agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee, and chili peppers, industrial products and high value-added products from countries such as South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco have also begun to enter the Chinese market more frequently. This not only helps Africa expand exports, enhance industrial added value, and accelerate industrialization, but also helps Africa integrate deeper into the global supply chain, achieving more independent and resilient development.
China is transforming from a 'world factory' to an important engine of global innovation and an important partner in international cooperation, "Dussel said. For developing countries including Latin American and Caribbean countries, China is not only an important trading partner, but also a partner in investment, industry, and technology cooperation. China continues to expand its high-level opening-up to the outside world. Countries can not only share the opportunities brought by China's super large market, but also enhance their independent development capabilities through production supply chain and technological cooperation, achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
China's super large market, high-level opening-up policy, and continuously released innovative vitality have created new growth space for global enterprises. China continues to expand international cooperation through important platforms such as the China International Import Expo, Canton Fair, Consumer Expo, and Chain Expo. Through more open trade policies and cooperation initiatives, more countries can share China's development opportunities. "Yanucci said that a China that adheres to openness and cooperation will continue to bring more certainty to world economic growth.
Wu Sen believes that China is providing the world with more diverse and high-quality development opportunities. For Thailand, the continuous upgrading of the Chinese market means that more high-quality agricultural products, food, and services can enter the Chinese market, while Chinese enterprise investment also promotes the upgrading of local industries and employment growth in Thailand. The 'China Opportunity 2.0' will inject more lasting momentum into sustainable development in Asia and even globally.