The global phenomenon of Pop Mart’s Labubu collectible dolls signifies a transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China," highlighting China’s growing soft power through cultural exports.

• Over the past 17 years, the number of Chinese brands in the Brand Finance Global 500 has surged from 13 to 68, with their total brand value increasing by more than 23-fold to $1.4 trillion.
• Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of iMpact, notes that China now exports its own innovations including electric vehicles, smartphones, and consumer drones, beyond just toys.
• Deng Chenger, a doctoral researcher and affiliate at King’s College London, emphasizes that the Labubu craze, alongside hits like the video game Black Myth: Wukong and animated film Ne Zha 2, reflects the increasing global resonance of Chinese-origin intellectual properties.