Premier Li Qiang to Address 5th Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend and deliver a speech at the opening ceremony and related activities of the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo, scheduled for September 23–27, 2026, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The announcement was made by Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong, according to state media reports. The high-level attendance underscores Beijing's focus on digital trade as a driver of foreign commerce and economic engagement.

Digital trade has emerged as an essential growth engine for international commerce and cross-border services. The direct participation of China's premier at the Global Digital Trade Expo signals sustained central government backing for expanding market opening in digital sectors, fostering new foreign trade drivers, and participating in international digital economic frameworks.

BEIJING — Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening ceremony and related activities of the upcoming 5th Global Digital Trade Expo, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address, state media reported on Monday. The announcement was made by Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong, according to official dispatches published by Xinhua News Agency and the central government portal. The five-day expo will take place from September 23 to September 27, 2026, in Hangzhou, the capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province. The Global Digital Trade Expo is China's premier national-level trade event focused specifically on digital commerce, encompassing cross-border e-commerce, digital services, data trade, and digital technology solutions. Hosted in Hangzhou—long regarded as the cradle of China's consumer internet sector and home to several leading tech enterprises—the gathering is intended to showcase domestic industry advancements while facilitating cross-border business matchmaking. Premier Li's planned participation underscores the high priority China's top leadership places on the digital economy as traditional manufacturing and export drivers face persistent global headwinds. In recent policy directives, Chinese authorities have repeatedly pledged to nurture new momentum in foreign trade by expanding cross-border data pilot zones, standardizing digital customs procedures, and promoting the internationalization of domestic digital service platforms. At the same time, foreign commercial partners and trade bodies continue to seek greater clarity on regulatory boundaries affecting cross-border data transfers, intellectual property protection, and foreign equity caps in value-added telecommunications. Observers expect Li's address during the opening ceremony to touch upon Beijing's broader posture toward opening the digital sector to international capital and expanding bilateral and multilateral trade cooperation. Detailed operational agendas, partner country designations, and exhibition sector layouts for the Hangzhou event are expected to unfold as the opening date approaches.