'Investing in China is investing in our future'

Even as the global economy encounters headwinds, a key takeaway from my interviews with business executives is that China's unwavering commitment to further opening-up its markets has created important opportunities for the growth of foreign companies during these trying times.

"Success in China makes you stronger worldwide. That is why we firmly believe that the next 'China is China'. And that 'investing in China is investing in our future'," Jean-Paul Agon, chairman of L'Oréal Group, told me during the seventh China International Import Expo in Shanghai last month.

"Honeywell has built a complete value chain in China, covering innovation, research, production, procurement, sales and services. We will collaborate with more partners in China to co-create new business models and innovative applications that benefit enterprises globally," Yu Feng, president of Honeywell China, said to me during the second China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing in late November.