In a significant address to bilateral business leaders, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has called for strengthened economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. Speaking at the China-US Business Cooperation Forum in Washington on Thursday, the ambassador outlined a strategic vision for navigating current challenges while capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
The forum, jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Meridian International Center, provided a platform for discussing the complex economic relationship that has experienced both advancements and setbacks throughout the year. Ambassador Xie emphasized that executive leadership from both nations have been actively seeking clarity on how to interpret and advance this crucial relationship in what he termed a ‘new era.’
Central to the ambassador’s optimistic outlook was the stabilizing influence of head-of-state diplomacy. ‘The personal commitment of President Xi Jinping and President Trump to stabilizing bilateral relations has injected precious certainty into our economic cooperation,’ Xie stated, noting this development has been particularly reassuring to business communities unsettled by recent tensions.
The diplomatic calendar appears promising, with President Trump scheduled to visit China in April next year and having extended an invitation for President Xi to visit the United States. This continued high-level engagement is expected to serve as ‘the anchor of China-US relations’ moving forward.
Xie also highlighted China’s forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which emphasizes high-quality development, enhanced innovation capabilities, and cultivation of new productive forces. The plan advances China’s commitment to high-standard institutional opening and creates expanded space for two-way investment. By 2035, projections indicate China’s middle-income population will grow to 700-800 million people, presenting substantial market opportunities.
The year 2026 promises unprecedented cooperative potential, with China hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen while the United States convenes the G20 Summit during the same period.
Ambassador Xie proposed a practical framework centered on ‘three lists’ to guide business engagement: expanding dialogue through existing consultation mechanisms and platforms like the China International Import Expo; identifying new cooperation areas in emerging sectors such as renewable energy, advanced materials, aviation, aerospace, and low-altitude economy; and constructively addressing problems based on facts rather than ideological framing.
The ambassador concluded by urging US business leaders to help counter misinformation and prevent disruptions that could undermine confidence in the bilateral economic partnership, while simultaneously calling on the US government to provide ‘a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment’ for Chinese enterprises operating in America.