Report says Chinese CEOs are more positive about corporate development prospects

China News Service, Beijing, November 9 (Reporter Zhang Su) A report recently released stated that Chinese CEOs (hereinafter referred to as "Chinese CEOs") have regained confidence in the global economy and their own corporate growth.

The report titled "China CEO Outlook 2026" integrates global survey results from August to September this year and brings together the views of 1,400 global CEOs (125 of whom are from China). It focuses on core issues such as artificial intelligence investment, talent and organizational change, technology governance and sustainable development.

Survey results show that 73% of Chinese CEOs are confident in global economic growth in the next three years, and 82% are confident in China's economic growth in the next three years. Among major economies, Chinese business managers have the highest confidence in the local economy.

The report also shows that companies have become more positive in their judgments about their own development prospects. 86% of Chinese CEOs are confident in corporate growth in the next three years, a new high since 2020; 74% expect the average annual growth of corporate revenue in the next three years to be no less than 2.5%.

"Chinese business leaders' confidence in growth is increasingly based on their own strategic choices and capacity building." Zou Jun, chairman of KPMG Asia Pacific and China, said that in the face of the rise of emerging industries and adjustments to the competitive landscape, companies need to seize the opportunities brought by the growth of new growth drivers, continue to invest in technology, talent and governance capabilities, and transform confidence in the future into sustainable operating results.

The report shows that in order to achieve growth goals, Chinese companies attach great importance to enhancing innovation capabilities and operating efficiency through digital transformation, and improving their ability to withstand external shocks through supply chain construction. 15% of Chinese CEOs list promoting digital transformation and business interconnection as their preferred business strategy in the next three years.

Digital and intelligent transformation and the cultivation of new driving forces also place higher demands on corporate leadership. The survey shows that agility and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure, risk identification and management capabilities, and digital and technical literacy have become the leadership abilities that Chinese CEOs value most.

"Enterprises are more proactively coordinating growth and security, and integrating innovation capability building and risk prevention into strategic layouts." Jiang Liqin, partner in charge of client and business development at KPMG China, said that in the face of technological iterations, geopolitical changes and supply chain restructuring, leaders need to accurately analyze trends, coordinate resource allocation and risk response priorities, and enhance operational resilience while promoting business transformation.

It is worth noting that artificial intelligence is an important thread throughout the annual survey. 76% of Chinese CEOs regard artificial intelligence as a priority investment matter in the next three years, an increase of 17 percentage points from last year and a growth rate higher than the global level.

"Currently, companies are more active in investing in artificial intelligence and are evaluating short-term returns more prudently, reflecting that investment decisions are further returning to commercial value." Cai Wei, president of KPMG China Economic Research Institute, said that whether the advantages of technology supply can be transformed into application innovation advantages and promote the deeper penetration of artificial intelligence into the real economy will become an important focus in cultivating new productivity and enhancing medium- and long-term growth momentum.

The report also believes that Chinese companies are responding to a new round of changes in the competitive landscape with more positive growth expectations and more pragmatic transformation measures. From digital infrastructure to artificial intelligence applications, from talent training to governance improvement, continuing to enhance one's capabilities will become the key for companies to seize development opportunities and create long-term value.