How can the world's largest exporter not be open?

People's Daily Online has launched "Understand China," a new program that focuses on the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). In this episode of "Understand China," Professor Gong Jiong from the University of International Business and Economics engages in a dialogue with John Quelch, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University and recipient of the 2012 Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award.

Together, they provide an in-depth analysis of China's development direction and major objectives for the next five years, as well as China's approach to sharing development opportunities with the world.

Quelch noted that China's five-year plans clearly communicate China's development agenda and objectives to the world, reflecting a high degree of transparency and openness in China's development path.

In response to international narratives suggesting that "China is turning inward," Gong remarked, "We are the world's largest exporter. How can the world's largest exporter not be open, right? We can't afford not to be open."

Quelch added that China's shift toward a domestic-demand-driven economic model does not represent a move from globalization to isolation. Rather, it is a "parallel strategy": while boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand, China continues to encourage outbound investment, support enterprises in "going global," and deepen international cooperation.