Published on: 2026-08-04
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Foreign trade is an indicator of the real level of a country’s openness and a barometer reflecting the vitality of the economy.
Data on China’s foreign trade for the first half of the year indicate not only the optimization of its structure and a shift in the driving forces of growth but also a qualitative leap in “Chinese capabilities.” What is the profound meaning of the concept “Chinese capabilities 2.0”? Let’s consider three groups of data.
The first data group: imports grow faster than exports, and a more balanced trade development reveals opportunities for the super-large Chinese market.
In the first half of the year, the volume of China’s commodity imports amounted to 10.74 trillion yuan, an increase of 22.1% compared to the same period last year. The import growth rate exceeded the export growth rate by 8.7 percentage points, and the contribution of imports to the growth of foreign trade was also higher than that of exports.
The acceleration of import growth is one of the clearest indicators of China’s high level of openness to the outside world. For many years, China has consistently adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, steadily opening its market to the whole world. As the second-largest consumer market in the world, China is systematically expanding its independent and unilateral openness. Currently, it implements a zero-tariff policy with respect to 63 countries, successfully hosts international exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, China International Consumer Goods Expo, and China International Supply Chain Promotion Fair, creating a “window” of high-quality products from around the world to enter the Chinese market.
Currently, China has held the second place in the world in terms of import volume for 17 consecutive years, and its share in global imports has increased from approximately 7.9% to about 10%. In the first half of the year, an increase in China’s imports was recorded from more than 150 countries and regions worldwide.
The shift from a predominant reliance on exports to improving the quality of both exports and imports reflects not only a change in the trade structure but also an evolution in the very concept of development. The continuously expanding Chinese market and the progressively improving model of openness are dismantling the outdated zero-sum game logic, helping ensure that all countries around the world can more broadly and fairly benefit from China’s development, and that the vast Chinese market becomes a common global platform for new opportunities.
The second group: the export of high-tech products made in China is confidently growing, and the strengthening of innovative drivers comprehensively contributes to the modernization of global industry.
In the first half of the year, the export volume of Chinese integrated circuits, electronic components, and wind power installations increased by 88.7%, 62.6%, and 35.6% year-on-year, respectively.
These growth indicators reveal one of the key components of “China Opportunities 2.0” – the continuous dissemination of innovative advantages to the global economy. Today, the global technological revolution is closely intertwined with the green transition, industrial structure is rapidly changing, the replacement of old and new driving forces is accelerating, and new market needs, industry development directions, and growth opportunities are continuously emerging. Relying on the world’s most comprehensive system of industrial sectors and the most developed manufacturing infrastructure, Chinese industry precisely meets global demands for digital, green, and intelligent transformation, offering optimal solutions for various countries, regions, and application areas. Today, China is producing a range of world-class unicorn companies in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and new energy sources. The country is also actively proposing “Chinese solutions” in the development of international standards and industrial sector management.
The facts convincingly prove: new Chinese technologies and products bring to the world not shocks, but opportunities; not threats, but a powerful impulse for development.
The third group of data: the supply of chemical products, electricity, and other goods necessary for reliable energy provision is growing, and the resilience of production chains and supply chains ensures the stability of global production.
In the first half of the year, exports of main organic chemical products from China increased by 25.1%, exports of plastics in primary forms rose by 35%, and exports of electricity to ASEAN countries grew by 42.9% compared to the same period last year.
In the context of a complex and rapidly changing global geopolitical situation, as well as ongoing tensions in the supply of energy resources and chemical raw materials, stable production capacities and reliable provision of key resources have become some of the most scarce strategic resources in the world. China’s system of production chains and supply chains combines innovative potential with the ability to ensure supply stability. It not only creates new driving forces for future industries but also strengthens the foundation of basic industry, helping to offset the global supply deficit.
It is evident that “Chinese Capabilities 2.0” are replacing the traditional advantages based on low factor costs and extensive scale expansion. They represent a set of systemic dividends founded on the openness of a very large market, driven by innovative industrial breakthroughs, and supported by supply stability throughout the entire production chain. These advantages bring the much-needed certainty to the global economy, whose recovery remains weak, while the number of uncertainty factors continues to grow.
China will continue to steadily promote high-level openness, consistently strengthen the resilience of production and supply chains, and expand opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. Thanks to stable economic growth, active innovation development, and further expansion of openness, China will continue to contribute to the long-term development of the global economy.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.