Beijing's qualitative opening-up provides opportunity: Expert

The annual two sessions have drawn global attention this year as one of the key tasks facing the participating national legislators and political advisors is to deliberate on the draft outline of the tone-setting 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

Many observers are examining how the plan covers the topic of opening up. It promotes open cooperation, expands institutional opening-up, and aims to build a higher-standard open economic system.

For Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, or BCECC, a major feature of high-standard opening-up is that China is focusing more on quality rather than quantity.

"In earlier stages, opening-up was largely about expanding market access and attracting foreign capital in broad terms. Today, the emphasis is more selective and strategic," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "Investment is increasingly encouraged in specific high-value sectors such as high technology, green technology, biotechnology, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. That reflects the qualitative evolution of China's economy."

Dewit stressed that high-standard opening-up goes beyond bringing more low-value goods into China, and instead, means focusing on higher value-added cooperation.

"China is not looking to import basic products; rather, it is interested in exchanging expertise and jointly developing new technologies, new financial tools, and innovative industrial solutions with international partners, including Europe. This is where the real opportunity lies," he said, stressing that the 15th Five-Year Plan offers important possibilities in this regard.

Besides the transition from quantity to quality, which in essence is about upgrading the structure of the economy, Dewit also pointed out that China's high-standard opening-up also involves a transition from policy-driven incentives to institutional frameworks.

"In the past, preferential policies played a central role in attracting foreign investors. Today, what businesses seek is consistency, legal safeguards, and transparent regulatory systems. Long-term predictability matters more than short-term incentives. Institutional openness — clear rules, reliable enforcement, and equal treatment — is now central," he said.

He explains how open cooperation has changed. "Previously, many foreign enterprises entered China primarily to manufacture and export. Today, cooperation is multidimensional: joint research and development, co-innovation in digital technologies, partnerships in green finance, and shared participation in third markets."

The shift from cost advantage to innovation partnership is another feature of China's opening-up initiative, Dewit said. "China is no longer just a cost-competitive production base. It has become a global leader in areas such as renewable energy, electric mobility, digital platforms, and advanced manufacturing. This presents entirely new opportunities. European companies need to recognize this transformation in order to benefit from it."

To further promote high-standard opening up, Dewit suggests more regulatory transparency and consultation mechanisms. "Structured dialogue platforms at national and provincial levels would strengthen confidence among foreign investors, while regular consultation helps prevent misunderstandings and build trust."

From a European perspective, Dewit is especially interested in the "new horizons" for mutually beneficial cooperation mentioned in the draft. "Despite global uncertainties, economic ties between China and the European Union remain substantial. The EU and China are among each other's major trading partners, and trade flows demonstrate strong structural complementarity," he said.

Europe excels in high-end manufacturing, advanced technology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and specialized services, while China offers a vast market, dynamic digital platforms, and strong industrial ecosystems, he explained. "This complementarity creates a solid foundation."

Speaking about his motherland Belgium, Dewit believes the relationship is particularly strategic. "Belgium's central location in Europe, its advanced logistics infrastructure, and its strong chemical and life sciences sectors create natural synergies with China."

He said there remains significant space for cooperation. "Both the Chinese and European sides should seize these opportunities," he said, listing key potential areas such as green and low-carbon technologies, electric mobility and smart transportation.

"Renewable energy, hydrogen solutions, carbon capture, and battery storage are areas where Europe has strong experience and China has large-scale capabilities, while China has achieved global leadership in electric vehicles and battery production. Europe brings strengths in automotive engineering and safety standards," he said. "Together, this creates significant cooperation potential."