Qingdao, China | June 18, 2025
Foreign journalists from 10 countries and regions, including Canada, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, Malaysia, and Pakistan, arrived in Qingdao today to begin in-depth reporting on the 6th Qingdao Multinational Leaders’ Summit. With cameras rolling and notebooks open, the international press delegation embarked on a journey to explore both the summit’s key agenda and the local pulse of this coastal Chinese city.
Running from June 18 to 20 under the theme “Multinational Corporations and China – Linking the World for Win-Win Cooperation,” the summit seeks to showcase China’s high-quality development opportunities and deepen synergy between China’s vast market demand and the resource strengths of multinational firms.
This year’s summit has attracted 557 participants, including 342 international business executives and 129 representatives from domestic enterprises, signaling robust global interest. The growing network of summit attendees—often described as its expanding “circle of friends”—brings fresh faces and focuses, particularly in emerging industries.
Over 20% of this year’s participants represent sectors such as artificial intelligence, modern finance, and other cutting-edge fields, highlighting China’s rising appeal as a hub for innovation and future-facing collaboration. The summit has also seen increased engagement from non-traditional markets, with first-time participation from companies in Vietnam, Egypt, and other ASEAN, Middle Eastern, and African nations.
One notable development is the arrival of a 35-member delegation from 22 multinational companies based in the Middle East, exploring cooperation in fields like fund investment, renewable energy, desalination, and smart agriculture—further underlining China’s wide-ranging economic magnetism.
Journalists are also visiting local enterprises such as Haier Group and cultural hotspots like Shangjieli, offering a window into Qingdao’s blend of global industry and local heritage. These site visits aim to deliver rich, people-centered stories about China’s economic engagement with the world.
The summit program features a high-level opening ceremony, a forum on high-quality development, and multiple parallel sessions, including closed-door policy briefings and international cooperation dialogues. In addition, the annual “Multinational Corporations in China” report series will be released, providing valuable insights for companies operating in or entering the Chinese market.
With new sectors, new faces, and new energy, the Qingdao Multinational Leaders’ Summit continues to evolve as a powerful platform connecting China with the world’s business elite.
—
Reported by Tory Tang
