China's economy showed signs of stabilization at the beginning of the year, laying the foundation for a steady recovery throughout the year, said Ben Simpfendorfer, a partner at consultancy Oliver Wyman.

"I think the economy is stabilizing," Simpfendorfer said in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "The foundations are there for recovery." While China's growth target of around 5 percent for this year seems challenging, Simpfendorfer said he believes the goal is "still achievable if the real estate sector begins to stabilize".

Dismissing the speculation that China's economy is showing signs of peaking, he said the "long-term growth prospects still look very good".

"China hasn't peaked. It's evolving," he added. "The country will remain a global manufacturing hub and a global innovation hub. China matters for the global business and the global economy. There isn't another China out there at this point."