China Courts Global CEOs Amid Rising Trade Tensions and Economic Revival Push

China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng met with top executives from global giants like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), Mastercard (NYSE:MA), Cargill, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), and Corning to reinforce China’s commitment to foreign investment. He emphasized China’s "highly resilient" and "vibrant" economy, pledging continued improvements to the business environment and welcoming multinational investment.

The meeting, announced by the commerce ministry, coincides with the China Development Forum in Beijing, drawing foreign CEOs from various sectors. Although the exact location of the meeting was not disclosed, many executives are expected to remain in the capital through the week, with some reportedly scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping on Friday.

Amid escalating U.S.-China tensions and renewed tariff concerns, Beijing is pushing to attract more foreign capital while stimulating domestic demand. Premier Li Qiang, addressing the forum, called for open markets to counter global instability and pledged more proactive macroeconomic policies.

Notably, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a strong supporter of Donald Trump, attended the forum with a delegation of senior executives from American firms. Despite geopolitical strains, U.S. companies represented the largest group among the 86 firms from 21 countries attending this year’s event, according to state broadcaster CCTV. However, sources noted a decrease in the number of U.S. CEOs participating compared to last year.

The forum highlights China's efforts to rebuild trust with international businesses and reinforce its role in the global economy. As global companies weigh the challenges and opportunities in the Chinese market, Beijing is eager to showcase its economic openness and growth potential.