In recent years, China’s economy has demonstrated strong resilience, becoming a pillar of stability and a source of confidence and predictability in a turbulent world. China’s economy has transitioned from rapid growth to high-quality development, bringing immense opportunities to the world.

The ‘Two Sessions’ (the 4th Session of the 14th National People’s Congress and the 4th Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) have opened in Beijing. Following extensive public consultation, the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development will be submitted for review, approval, promulgation and implementation. The international spotlight falls on Beijing and on China’s development. On this occasion, I would like to share with Nepali friends six major benefits that “China Opportunity 2.0” will bring to the world.

Export to China

As the world’s second-largest consumer market and import market, China’s good faith and efforts to open wider to the outside world and promote balanced trade are there for all to see. China has lowered the overall tariff level to 7.3 percent, nearing that of developed countries; hosted the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for eight years consecutively, recording more than $580 billion in the total intended deals and providing preferential policies and support for Nepali exhibitors at each CIIE; and granted zero-tariff treatment to all least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, being the first major economy and large developing country in the world to adopt this measure.

Invest in China

China has implemented national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, eliminated all foreign investment access restrictions in the manufacturing sector, issued the negative lists of the national and pilot free trade zone versions for cross-border trade in services, and accelerated efforts to ensure market access and smooth operation. Of the 224 Lighthouse Factories named by the World Economic Forum, 101 are in China, with approximately 30 percent involving foreign investment—a testament to China’s ever-growing market appeal.

Shopping in China

China has implemented mutual visa exemption with 29 countries, unilaterally granted visa-free entry to 48 countries and introduced a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for 55 countries. It has rolled out policies including the instant tax refund scheme, a lowered minimum threshold for tax refunds, and an increased tax refund amount. In the first 10 months of 2025, the total spending of inbound tourists rose by 42 percent to 313.4 billion RMB.

Made in China

Through international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, China has continuously met the industrialisation needs of its trading partners. The stable prices of China’s various export products have helped ease global inflationary pressures, while its mechanical equipment, parts and components, and technologies have consistently boosted the manufacturing development of all countries. Reuters published the article ‘China Could Give the US a Disinflationary Hand’, noting that a broad 10 percent fall in Chinese export prices would push down producer prices in the US by 0.1-0.2 percent.

Beautiful China

China is the central driving force behind the global shift towards green development. According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the power generation costs of global wind and solar power projects have cumulatively dropped by more than 60 percent and 80 percent respectively over the past decade, which is largely attributable to China Innovation, China Manufacturing, and China Engineering. Nearly 80 percent of electric vehicles purchased by Nepali consumers are Chinese brands. Major hydropower stations, including the Upper Marsyangdi A and Upper Tamakoshi, invested in and constructed by Chinese enterprises, have been connected to the grid in Nepal one after another. China is helping Nepal embark on a path of transport electrification, energy independence, and low-carbon development.

Digital China

China is actively championing an open-source ecosystem by opening up core algorithms and model capabilities. By collaborating with other nations, it is building a global network that spans algorithms, applications, and practical use cases, democratising the benefits of the AI revolution. As tracked by LM Arena, a popular large language model (LLM) benchmark platform, China’s share of global open-source LLM downloads has surpassed that of the United States. In Nepal, the Apple and Google app store charts show that CapCut—a video editing app powered by Chinese AI technology—consistently tops the charts, becoming the go-to choice for young people seeking to express themselves and connect with others.

Trade surplus

Recently, China’s trade surplus has been much debated. I would like to walk you through a few real-world cases to dispel the misconceptions and reveal the true picture. China never intentionally pursues trade surplus. It is a win-win situation rather than a one-sided gain.

Let’s firstly look beyond the surplus and see the bigger picture—a highly integrated global landscape driven by the free flow of resources and deep synergy across industrial and supply chains. The iPhone carries a ‘Made in China’ tag, but its composition is truly global. From the chip design in the US and fabrication in China’s Taiwan region, to displays from South Korea and optics from Japan, these components ultimately come together in the mainland of China for final assembly.

Second, China’s trade surplus reflects the worldwide strategic layout of multinational corporations. In 2025, foreign-invested enterprises contributed 27 percent of China’s total exports. In the first 11 months, the surplus generated by foreign manufacturing firms in China exceeded 20 percent of the total. Notably, Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai now accounts for more than 50 percent of the company's global deliveries.

Third, China’s trade surplus is recycled back into the global economy through external investment. In 2025, the stock of China’s external foreign direct investment reached 3.4 trillion US dollars, while external portfolio investment and other investments such as deposits and loans stood at $2 trillion and $2.4 trillion. By deploying capital to diverse regions and industries worldwide, Chinese enterprises create significant tax revenue and jobs for host countries, help bridge financing gaps in some developing economies, and foster stability in the global economy and financial system.

Joining hands

President Xi Jinping calls for all nations to pull together in the same boat rather than engage in beggar-thy-neighbour practices. If we cling to the outdated winner-takes-all logic, we will inevitably shut the door on others, only to block our own path.

China’s development is not a spillover of external shocks, but a two-way journey of shared growth with the world and with Nepal. As we embark on the 15th Five-Year Plan, we welcome Nepal to join us in seizing ‘China Opportunity 2.0.’ Together, we can build a community with a shared future for humanity, delivering greater benefits to our peoples and contributing more to regional prosperity and beyond.