Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda underscored the importance of China’s ongoing transition toward high-quality development during his inaugural official visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Kanda emphasized the complexity of the reforms required to achieve inclusive and sustainable prosperity in the world’s second-largest economy.
“The PRC’s ongoing transition to high-quality development is crucial to the country’s inclusive growth and lasting prosperity,” stated Kanda. He cautioned, however, that the path ahead is filled with challenges. These include the need for significant economic rebalancing, particularly through stimulating domestic demand and increasing household consumption by raising incomes. He also emphasized the importance of stabilizing the country’s troubled property sector through a combination of demand- and supply-side policies and empowering private enterprises by creating a more level playing field.
Kanda’s visit to China comes at a critical juncture as the country navigates post-pandemic recovery and seeks to shift its growth model from one reliant on exports and heavy investment to one anchored in services, innovation, and consumption-driven expansion. His engagements reflect ADB’s continued support of China’s reform agenda and its alignment with sustainable development goals.
As part of his visit, the ADB President toured key ADB-supported environmental projects in Jiangsu Province. Among the highlights were the Dafeng Milu Deer National Nature Reserve and the Yancheng Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, both located within the UNESCO-listed Yancheng Wetlands. These sites demonstrate how biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand with sustainable economic development. Kanda commended the integration of ecological protection, ecotourism, and community development that these initiatives represent—serving as a model for balancing economic activity with environmental stewardship.
In his meetings with National Development and Reform Commission Chairman Zheng Shanjie and Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, discussions centered on deepening cooperation in critical areas such as fiscal sustainability, debt management, and regional knowledge exchange. These areas are increasingly relevant as developing economies, including China, work toward financial resilience and inclusive growth amid global uncertainties.
Kanda also delivered a speech at the China Development Forum, where he reiterated the urgency of accelerating economic rebalancing to support China’s vision for high-quality development. His remarks reflected ADB’s strategic focus on helping member countries achieve resilient, green, and inclusive economies.
The ADB has long partnered with China in its development journey, especially in infrastructure, climate adaptation, and poverty reduction. This latest visit reinforces the commitment to supporting China as it shifts toward a growth paradigm that is more environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and economically balanced.
As China continues to implement critical reforms, the insights shared by the ADB President underline the delicate balancing act required—between growth and stability, environmental protection and development, and state guidance and market forces. The discussions and site visits during Kanda’s trip signal a deepening of regional collaboration in achieving long-term, equitable progress in Asia.