Qingdao, China – June 19, 2025
The Sixth Qingdao Multinational Corporations Leaders Summit officially opened on June 19 at the Qingdao International Conference Center. Co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the People’s Government of Shandong Province, the event drew high-level political and corporate figures from around the world, underscoring China’s continued drive for global economic engagement.
He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council and member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. In his remarks, He reaffirmed President Xi Jinping’s recognition of the vital role multinational corporations have played in China’s reform and opening-up. He emphasized China’s massive domestic market, resilient economy, and world-leading industrial infrastructure as core advantages, calling the country an “ideal, safe, and promising” destination for international investment.
He Lifeng also pledged that China would “unswervingly pursue high-level opening-up,” strengthen the international business environment, and uphold the multilateral trading system. “We warmly welcome global companies and entrepreneurs to invest and innovate in China, seize shared opportunities, and co-create a better future,” he said.
Notable foreign dignitaries attending included Liberian Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Egyptian House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Mohamed Abou El Enein, and Malaysian Senate Deputy President Nur Jazlan Mohamed. Party Secretary of Shandong Province Lin Wu and Governor Zhou Naixiang addressed the audience, emphasizing Shandong’s ongoing commitment to international cooperation and investment partnerships. Lin noted the province’s success in fostering mutually beneficial relationships with numerous global firms, expressing readiness to deepen collaboration in areas like green transformation, industrial upgrading, and economic integration.
The summit also featured speeches from top executives at global corporations such as Glencore, Mizuho Financial Group, and CJ Group, along with representatives from the World Trade Organization. Speakers praised China’s high-quality development strategy, citing it as a significant driver of business confidence and long-term partnership potential.
During the event, a new report titled “Multinational Corporations in China” was released, providing insight into the evolving landscape of foreign business operations in the country. Following the opening ceremony, the High-Quality Development Forum was held, featuring presentations by business leaders from the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Brazil’s Ouro Fino Group, Louis Dreyfus Company, and others.
Government representatives from China’s national ministries, Shandong Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were joined by ambassadors and consular officials from multiple countries, highlighting the summit’s growing global relevance.
As China opens its doors wider, the Qingdao Summit stands as a prominent platform for fostering trust, strengthening economic ties, and encouraging innovation through international collaboration.
Reported by Tory Tang
