In recent years, the international business community has been paying increasingly close attention to China’s development trajectory. On March 28, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Beijing with representatives of more than 40 leading multinational corporations. This event was symbolic — both as an assessment of China’s current economic policies and as a platform for shaping the prospects of international cooperation amid global uncertainty. President Xi’s speech made it clear: China is not only committed to its policy of openness but is also determined to pursue it with even greater resolve, turning its internal transformation into a stabilizing factor on the global stage. In doing so, China demonstrates leadership not only in economic terms but also in shaping global economic expectations.
Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has been consistently implementing a strategy of reform and opening up, achieving sustainable economic growth and social stability. Over the past 40 years of reform — particularly in the 21st century — the country has undergone an unprecedented transformation: from an agrarian economy to an industrial one, from imitation to innovation, and from import dependence to technological leadership. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy, one of the largest consumer markets, and a key player in global production and logistics chains. China has proven that a combination of stable governance, consistent policies, and openness to the world is an effective model for sustainable development.
During the meeting, President Xi Jinping placed special emphasis on the role of foreign investment and multinational companies in China’s modernization. According to him, foreign businesses in China are not merely economic partners — they are active participants in reform, carriers of advanced management practices, technological innovation, and the values of mutually beneficial cooperation. The support provided by international businesses at various historical stages has enabled China to effectively integrate into global value chains, while also granting businesses access to a rapidly growing market. The role of foreign enterprises in China has long exceeded the boundaries of simple economic partnership — they are now factors of political stability and technological advancement.
Against the backdrop of rising global protectionism, trade barriers, and geopolitical tensions, China’s position appears particularly confident. Xi Jinping stated unequivocally: the doors of openness will continue to open wider, and the policy of attracting foreign investment will not only remain but will be strengthened. Particular emphasis is placed on fostering a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment. This includes equal market access, protection of foreign companies’ rights, trade liberalization, and the digital and green transformation of the economy. All this highlights that China is turning its policy of openness into a systematic national strategy — making it a cornerstone of the country’s economic future.
It is worth noting that President Xi Jinping emphasized that China is not merely a consumer market — it is a country with the largest middle-income population in the world, immense industrial capacity, and a unique infrastructure base. Digitalization, environmental sustainability, and intelligent manufacturing form the three pillars of China’s new economy. These elements position the country at the epicenter of global technological and industrial transformation. In this context, China is not just creating favorable conditions for investment — it is building a future-oriented ecosystem in which foreign capital can integrate with maximum benefit.
Unsurprisingly, representatives from leading global companies such as FedEx, Mercedes-Benz, Sanofi, HSBC, Hitachi, SK Hynix, and Saudi Aramco highlighted China’s exceptional appeal in their remarks. They expressed admiration for the country’s steady growth, technological advancements, and responsible governance. Moreover, they confirmed their commitment not only to maintain their presence in China but to deepen their investments and enhance their participation in the country’s modernization process. China has once again affirmed its status as a country not only worth investing in — but one where investment is imperative.
Equally important was the foreign policy dimension of the meeting. Xi Jinping reiterated China’s commitment to genuine multilateralism and inclusive globalization. China supports a stable international trade system, free exchange, and the equal participation of all nations in shaping the global economic architecture. This message is particularly timely in an era marked by growing tendencies toward economic isolationism.
China positions itself as a systemic defender of an open global economy and multilateral cooperation.
Thus, the meeting in Beijing was more than a diplomatic gesture. It was a powerful politico-economic signal: China remains committed to the path of openness, stands ready for new phases of engagement with international businesses, and aims to turn its domestic development into a driver of global economic progress. Against the backdrop of growing uncertainty and global risks, China offers predictability, growth potential, and deep integration with the world economy. To invest in China, therefore, is to invest in stability, progress, and the future of the global economy.
President Xi Jinping’s meeting with representatives of international businesses in Beijing was not merely a diplomatic formality or a symbolic gesture of goodwill toward foreign capital. It was a carefully calibrated political and economic message to the entire world — particularly to those countries and companies increasingly concerned by rising global fragmentation, geo-economic confrontation, and the weakening of the multilateral trading system.
China as an Anchor of Global Stability and Growth
China possesses all the key elements necessary to remain a driving force of global economic growth:
– the world’s largest middle-income population,
– a continuously expanding domestic market,
– a high-tech manufacturing base,
– mature digital infrastructure,
– political and social stability,
– and a long-term state strategy embedded at the highest level.
But even more importantly, China does not simply accept foreign investment — it builds institutional conditions under which investors can feel secure and capital can function efficiently. The establishment of an equitable legal environment, strong support for foreign enterprises, enhanced protection of intellectual property rights, and transparent regulatory frameworks all underscore China’s strategic thinking — guided by long-term interests both for its own economy and for global stability.
Investing in China Means Investing in Quality and the Future
The phrase “investing in China means investing in the future” is no longer just a metaphor. Today, it is a rational and strategically sound choice for any international business seeking stable returns, technological partnerships, and long-term growth.
First, China is actively adapting its economy to meet the challenges of the future — from digital transformation to carbon neutrality. This means investments are flowing not only into traditional sectors, but also into emerging technological frontiers where synergy with global corporations is possible — in fields such as AI, biotechnology, sustainable energy, fintech, and intelligent manufacturing.
Second, participating in China’s modernization offers foreign companies not just profits, but access to one of the most dynamic markets in the world — a place where the standards of the future are being shaped in consumption, technology, and services. This is not merely entering a market; it is stepping into the economic model of the future.
Third, at a time when many regions of the world are becoming increasingly unpredictable for business, China maintains institutional and strategic coherence. What it offers is not short-term incentives, but an infrastructure for long-term development — including logistics, labor, scientific and technological clusters, and regional integration through initiatives like the Belt and Road.
China’s Role in Reshaping the Global Economic Architecture
As traditional institutions of economic governance such as the WTO and G20 face mounting challenges, China is steadily positioning itself as one of the central players in a new global economic order. Its commitment to genuine multilateralism, preserving global supply and production chains, and supporting open markets and fair competition is more than rhetorical — it is a form of geo-economic responsibility that China consciously embraces as a major power.
In this context, foreign businesses choosing to invest in China are not only beneficiaries but co-creators of a new architecture for global economic engagement. These partnerships are building new bridges between regions, connecting resources with technology, and forming sustainable alliances that unite capital, innovation, and national development.
The Beijing meeting with global business leaders sent a political signal akin to a strategic roadmap: China remains committed to the principle of openness and offers business confidence, institutional support, and vast growth opportunities. At a time when global businesses are seeking safe harbors for long-term development, China offers not only opportunity — it offers purpose: to be part of the next-generation global economy, to stand at the center of transformation, and to participate in shaping a sustainable growth model.
To invest in China is to invest not only in stability and profit — but in the future we all aspire to for the global economy.
China Studies Center
