Cheryl Wu Dunn

China in Transition: Still a Land of Opportunity?

Henry Paulson, Cheryl Wu Dunn, Bob Iger

A high-level panel convened by Disney and former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson analyzed China's critical transition from an export-driven economy to one reliant on domestic consumption and market forces. While Disney announced a $5.5 billion expansion of its Shanghai resort to capitalize on a growing middle class, experts warned that unresolved issues like environmental degradation, local government debt, and political control pose significant risks to long-term stability. The discussion concluded that accelerating financial reforms and international integration through trade agreements like the TPP are essential to prevent an unsustainable future despite China's current economic resilience.