Policy & RegulationAnalysis

Premier Li Qiang Urges US Businesses to Deepen Ties in China Market

Meeting with a US-China Business Council delegation, Beijing highlights emerging consumption sectors and calls for constructive economic stability.

Share
A cheerful street food vendor serving customers at an outdoor stall with traditional Chinese pastries.
Photo by 金枫 郭 on Pexels

The Brief

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a US-China Business Council delegation led by Board Chair McCain in Beijing, reiterating China's commitment to stabilizing bilateral commercial ties and welcoming foreign investment. Li highlighted China's unique blend of massive scale and emerging sectors such as smart and green consumption, pledging to address legitimate concerns of American firms operating in China while urging Washington to reciprocate by addressing Beijing's economic concerns.

Why it matters

The high-level meeting signals Beijing's persistent efforts to anchor multinational corporate sentiment amid wider geopolitical frictions, framing commercial engagement as the bedrock of bilateral strategic stability.

China context

Facing structural economic transitions and external headwinds, Chinese leadership is actively leaning on market opening narratives, regulatory protections, and burgeoning domestic demand in high-tech and green consumption to retain foreign capital and bolster cross-border supply chain integration.

Editor's View

EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting. Li Qiang's engagement with the US-China Business Council reflects a calculated effort by Beijing to leverage business diplomacy as a stabilizing counterweight in bilateral relations. By explicitly pitching China as an irreplaceable market defined by both scale and upgrading consumption, the Chinese leadership seeks to reinforce long-term corporate commitments while placing the onus on Washington to address reciprocal economic concerns.

What to watch

  • Subsequent meetings between the USCBC delegation and Chinese central or local regulatory bodies
  • Concrete policy actions addressing specific operational concerns raised by foreign enterprises in China
  • Trends in US corporate capital expenditure and long-term strategic plans linked to China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan

Key Takeaways

  • 1Premier Li Qiang met with the US-China Business Council board delegation led by Chair McCain at the Great Hall of the People.
  • 2Li underscored that China's economy uniquely combines immense market scale with high-growth sectors such as smart and green consumption.
  • 3Beijing pledged to address the legitimate operational concerns of US firms and protect fair competition while urging Washington to take concrete steps on Chinese concerns.
  • 4The USCBC delegation expressed continued confidence in China's economic trajectory and upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a visiting delegation from the US-China Business Council (USCBC) led by Board Chair McCain at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to reports published by state media, including Xinhua and Securities Times. During the meeting, Li emphasized that bilateral relations have maintained overall stability following strategic consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump during their meeting in Beijing. Li stated that China is willing to work with the United States under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state to enhance dialogue, broaden mutually beneficial cooperation, manage differences appropriately, and build a constructive, strategically stable bilateral relationship. Li characterized China as a uniquely dynamic market combining vast scale with new growth drivers, pointing specifically to rapid expansions in smart consumption and green consumption. He encouraged American enterprises to seize emerging market opportunities and continue deepening their operational presence in China. Acknowledging that trade frictions are natural given the sheer volume of bilateral commerce, Li maintained that mutual respect and communication remain the primary path to resolving disputes. The Premier reiterated that Beijing is prepared to actively address the legitimate demands of American businesses operating in China and safeguard fair market competition in accordance with the law. In return, Li expressed hope that the US side would meet China halfway, take tangible actions to resolve Chinese concerns, and effectively implement the outcomes of bilateral economic consultations. According to the official readout, representatives from the US delegation noted that US-China relations constitute the world's most critical bilateral relationship. The delegation expressed confidence in China's long-term economic prospects and the implementation of its 15th Five-Year Plan, reaffirming that the American business community intends to continue expanding investment and serving as a constructive partner in advancing bilateral stability. Senior Chinese official Wu Zhenglong also attended the meeting.