Q5 China last year reduced energy intensity by 5.1 percent, raised the nonfossil energy share to 21.7 percent, and expanded new-type energy storage capacity beyond 130 gigawatts. Artificial intelligence and advanced technologies remain at the forefront globally. Where do you see the strongest partnership potential in China's green transition and AI-driven industrial upgrading? Are you expanding investment in renewables, digitalization, smart manufacturing, or carbon management solutions? How central is China to your global sustainability roadmap and next-generation technology deployment?

HOMMA: The irreplaceable advantages of the Chinese market lie in its enormous market size, complete industrial chains, institutional opening-up, vibrant innovation ecosystem, tolerance for experimentation and strong talent pool — all of which are highly attractive to international brands and service providers. China has proposed the "dual carbon" goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, which will generate trillions of yuan in green investment. Meanwhile, Japan has mature technologies and operational experience in energy conservation and environmental protection, while China possesses a complete industrial chain, large-scale manufacturing capabilities and strong capacity for real-world application. By strengthening localized R&D in China, they can shift from the traditional model of "technology exports" toward "ecosystem co-creation". By deeply integrating into China's AI and autonomous driving ecosystems — through collaboration with leading Chinese companies, including large model developers and automotive manufacturers' supply chains — Japanese firms can achieve technological upgrading and accelerate the commercialization of new products.

XIA: China's strong progress in these areas aligns closely with Evonik's sustainability and digitalization strategy. We focus on three key growth areas: biobased solutions, the energy transition and the circular economy. A concrete example is Evonik's first global AEM center, which will open this year in Shanghai. It aims to accelerate next-generation hydrogen technologies to support green energy and decarbonization in China. We also see significant opportunities in digital infrastructure and data-center technologies — sectors rapidly expanding alongside China's AI boom. Evonik provides advanced thermal-management solutions and other materials that help data centers improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. We also offer solutions for the consumer electronics and battery industry. With these capabilities, we are well positioned to support China's transition toward greener energy systems and smarter, more sustainable industrial growth.

HUANG: Dow sees its greatest opportunities in applying materials science at scale to support China's key transitions, collaborating with industry partners and contributing to China's "dual-carbon" goals. China holds a leading position in renewable energy. Dow has a strong presence in the value chain, from photovoltaic module encapsulation and wind power systems to energy storage solutions. For circular-economy development, Dow is committed to embedding innovation across the entire plastics lifecycle and strengthening collaboration to enable more plastics to be recycled and retained within the value chain. In China, Dow works with brands and partners to collect, proceed and transform discarded plastics into post-consumer recycled resins. In 2025, Dow and partners launched a full-lifecycle plastic recycling traceability solution, which leveraged AI and smart tagging to enhance the efficiency and transparency of plastic recycling, and encourage broader consumer participation.