TCL Founder and Chairman Li Dongsheng: The rules related to globalization are changing, and Chinese companies need to readjust their globalization strategies.

Every reporter｜Zhang Rui Every editor｜Chen Junjie

March 22-23, the China Development Forum 2026 Annual Conference was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL, spoke at the “Technology Innovation and Future Industry Development Seminar” about how to transform cutting-edge technology into real productivity, deepen international cooperation, and build a modern industrial system.

During the annual meeting, Li Dongsheng was interviewed by various media outlets, including reporters from the Daily Economic News.

Li Dongsheng stated that as a traditional consumer electronics and home appliance company, TCL has expanded into many new advanced manufacturing sectors during its development, currently focusing primarily on four industry sectors: smart terminals, semiconductor displays, photovoltaic new energy, and semiconductor materials.

“We have set ambitious goals in all four sectors, with double-digit growth targets for each industry this year,” he said, noting that growth momentum comes from two aspects: first, product technology innovation, and second, expansion of overseas business.

He mentioned that the business performance at the start of this year has been good, with positive growth in the first two months. However, the impact of the Middle East situation on the market began to emerge in March, and there will be some challenges ahead. “But we are confident in achieving this year’s growth targets.”

Li Dongsheng Photo provided by the organizer

Hoping for a more favorable financing environment in capital-intensive, long-cycle sectors

This year’s Government Work Report set the economic growth target in the range of 4.5% to 5%. In Li Dongsheng’s view, this is a reasonable and achievable target.

He stated that China’s economic development must maintain moderate growth while paying more attention to the quality of growth. In recent years, we have emphasized high-quality development; for both the country and enterprises, the quality of development is more important than scale.

Regarding the potential for China’s economic growth, Li Dongsheng believes it mainly comes from two aspects: first, the new products, new technologies, and new market increments driven by innovation; for example, the application of artificial intelligence technology will bring tremendous economic growth opportunities; second, the development of the service industry, which still has significant growth potential compared to developed economies, especially through technological innovation and the introduction of new products, which can drive growth in related service industries.

From the perspective of enterprises, what policies are expected to stimulate these potentials?

In this regard, Li Dongsheng stated that TCL, as an advanced manufacturing enterprise, operates in an industry sector characterized by high technology, heavy assets, and long cycles. The main driving forces for the development of enterprises come from two aspects: first, technology innovation driven mainly by the enterprise’s own investments and accumulation; second, capital-driven, hoping for a more favorable financing environment. In these capital-intensive, long-cycle sectors, enterprises continuously require substantial capital investment. Currently, most Chinese enterprises are in the accumulation stage, and how to achieve a better financing environment is a direct prerequisite for the development of advanced manufacturing.

Speaking of TCL’s potential points, Li Dongsheng mentioned that for us, future growth mainly comes from two aspects: first, promoting product technology innovation and market growth through enhanced manufacturing capabilities; second, globalization. “The Chinese market is large, but the global market is even larger,” he said. Against the backdrop of a new restructuring of the global trade and investment landscape, how Chinese enterprises can adapt to the changes in the economic globalization pattern, formulate better development strategies, and promote more effective global business layouts is our most important growth point for the future. In the past few years, TCL’s overseas business growth has reached 15%, higher than the growth rate of domestic business, and we are confident that this growth trend can continue.

There is still much room for improvement in the supply of film and television content and high-definition display content

Regarding the currently turbulent international situation, Li Dongsheng admitted that there are indeed concerns about overseas business. The global market is constantly changing, with significant impacts from the situation in the Middle East. However, enterprises cannot change the larger environment; they can only adapt to the changing environment and focus on their own affairs. “Despite being affected by various factors, we are confident in achieving this year’s overseas business growth targets.”

Li Dongsheng mentioned in his speech that currently, global technology competition and cooperation are intertwined; although the geopolitical environment is complex, business should be a common language among countries.

He stated that there is still enormous potential in China’s economic globalization process. Enterprises, as economic entities, should actively expand foreign investment and international cooperation. Against this backdrop, enterprises should also achieve global transformation, moving toward globalization 3.0, from product export to co-building industrial capabilities, rooting themselves overseas, integrating locally, and enhancing global resource allocation capabilities.

When asked about his views on enterprises going overseas amid the current international situation, Li Dongsheng told reporters from the Daily Economic News that the rules related to globalization are undergoing some changes. As Chinese enterprises, we must adapt to these changes in rules and optimize our globalization strategies.

This year’s Government Work Report proposed the arrangement of 250 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special government bonds to support the replacement of old consumer goods with new ones, optimizing the policy implementation mechanism. Li Dongsheng believes that this policy will have a direct effect on boosting domestic market demand growth.

Regarding the assertion that “without an old-for-new replacement policy, the television industry will decline,” Li Dongsheng stated that for television products, the overall global market is still growing, but the Chinese television market has indeed declined in recent years.

“I believe this is mainly not an issue with the products themselves, but rather related to the insufficient supply of content associated with the television industry,” Li Dongsheng said. For example, there is still much room for improvement in the supply of film and television content and high-definition display content. In the entire film and television industry and entertainment industry, televisions, as terminal products, actually account for a small proportion of the value of the industrial chain.

“For example, in the United States, the annual output value of the film and television industry is about 4 trillion yuan, while China’s film and television industry has an annual output value of about 1.6 trillion yuan, indicating that we still have significant growth potential,” he said. Only with rich and sufficient film and television content can terminal demand increase.