On the Plan | Duke Kunshan University chief praises China's 15th Five-Year Plan

"The 15th Five-Year Plan is another very well-designed, very well-structured roadmap for economic development in China over the next five years," John Quelch, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, told People's Daily Online on the sidelines of the China Development Forum 2026, held in Beijing on March 22-23.

Quelch believes that the plan is forward-looking and brings a lot of stability, reliability and continuity of approach, which will offer great assurance to international investors.

Quelch also emphasized that China, building on its strong manufacturing base, is now putting more focus on invention and innovation, developing value-added products and extending the value chain. The country is not only seeing more Chinese companies go global, but also boasts a substantial domestic market which, if further stimulated, could contribute to overall economic growth, he added.