Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng convened with top executives from 11 multinational corporations at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on March 21, 2026, signaling strengthened economic cooperation amid China's push for innovation-driven growth. The meeting brought together leaders from HSBC, Siemens Healthineers, Rio Tinto, and other global firms spanning finance, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
He emphasized China's commitment to high-standard opening-up during the critical first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), stating: "Our focus on quality development creates unprecedented opportunities for international partners." The vice premier specifically highlighted emerging sectors like green energy and advanced manufacturing as key areas for collaboration.
Executives from Swiss financial giant UBS and British conglomerate Prudential expressed confidence in China's economic trajectory, with multiple companies announcing plans to increase R&D investments in the Chinese mainland. Schneider Electric's leadership noted particular interest in smart manufacturing partnerships, while agricultural firm Louis Dreyfus Company discussed sustainable supply chain initiatives.
This high-level dialogue comes as China implements market access reforms outlined in its 2026 development roadmap, with foreign direct investment in advanced technologies growing 8.7% year-to-date according to preliminary Ministry of Commerce data.
