Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on global business leaders to unite in protecting supply chains and ensuring the stability of global trade, stressing the importance of resisting actions that disrupt these systems. The appeal came during a meeting with several high-profile executives, including Rajesh Subramaniam of FedEx, Bill Winters of Standard Chartered, Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca, and Miguel Ángel López Borrego of Thyssenkrupp, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
In the face of a growing trade war with the United States, Xi emphasized the need for business leaders to adopt a broad and long-term perspective, cautioning against actions that could “turn back the clock” on historical progress. He urged the executives not to “blindly follow” disruptive policies that could harm the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. Instead, he encouraged them to contribute positively to global development by fostering certainty and cooperation.
This meeting marked the second consecutive year that Xi hosted a carefully staged gathering of foreign CEOs in the Chinese capital. The previous year’s event focused exclusively on US business leaders, reflecting the ongoing tensions between China and the United States. Xi’s speech underscored the increasingly polarized trade relationship between the two economic powers.
The meeting took place at the end of a busy week for Chinese policymakers, who have been working to strengthen ties with international businesses amidst escalating trade tensions with the Trump administration. Earlier that week, China held its premier annual CEO event, the China Development Forum, in Beijing, followed by the Boao Forum for Asia in the resort island of Hainan. These events served as platforms for Beijing to present itself as a stable force in global trade, positioning itself as a counterbalance to the US, where President Trump has imposed a series of tariffs on a wide range of products, from aluminum to automobiles.
Xi’s call to safeguard global trade comes amid heightened concerns over the US’s trade policies, which have disrupted international supply chains and prompted retaliatory measures from China. The Chinese president’s message at the meeting was a clear attempt to project stability and encourage business leaders to view China as a reliable partner in maintaining global trade flows.
As tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, the global business community is left navigating an increasingly complex landscape. Xi’s remarks underscore China’s desire to maintain its role as a stabilizing force in international trade, even as the US threatens further tariffs and trade disruptions. The Chinese government is hoping to mitigate the negative effects of the trade war by fostering closer relationships with foreign business leaders and promoting a message of cooperation and stability in the face of uncertainty.
