On April 23, AmCham China hosted the 2026 Government Affairs Conference and the release of the 2026 American Business in China White Paper (White Paper) at the Grand Hyatt Beijing. Under the theme “Re-anchoring for New Growth: Outlook for US-China Economic and Trade Relations in 2026,” the event brought together more than 100 representatives from government, business, and academia.
Keynote Speeches
Liu Yue, Deputy Director of the Institute of Foreign Economic Research at the National Development and Reform Commission, delivered the first keynote speech. She noted that China’s economy continues to improve, with strong advantages in talent and market size, and that areas such as industrial upgrading and green development present broad opportunities. She emphasized that China welcomes foreign-invested enterprises to deepen their presence in the Chinese market and share in the benefits of development.
Zhang Xiaoyan, Vice President of the China Center for Information Industry Development, focused her keynote remarks on the development of a modern industrial system and high-quality growth in manufacturing. She introduced the progress of China’s advanced manufacturing system and noted that China will continue to strengthen its role as a source of innovation to support companies in expanding into international markets.
He Jianwu, Deputy Director General of the Development Strategy and Regional Economy Research Department at the Development Research Center of the State Council, delivered a keynote speech on the guiding principles, main objectives, and key tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a development roadmap for enterprises in the coming period.
Zhou Qi, President of the Institute of Global Governance and Development at Renmin University of China, delivered a keynote speech from the perspective of international strategy and major power competition. Drawing on US-China trade dynamics, as well as competition in critical minerals and high technology, she analyzed the trajectory and opportunities for US-China relations in 2026.
Fireside Chat with CSIS’s Scott Kennedy
During the fireside chat, AmCham China President Michael Hart and Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), discussed the boundaries of competition and areas for cooperation in US-China relations. Their conversation covered changes in US policy toward China this year, US-China economic and technological competition, innovation ecosystems, intellectual property and standards-setting, as well as cooperation and risk management in artificial intelligence.
Click here to read the AmCham China Quarterly’s recent Q&A with Kennedy on his new report, The Power of Innovation.
Roundtable Discussion
Moderated by Zhou Bing, Vice President and Head of Government Affairs China at Merck, with panelists Xu Baoyan, President, FedEx China; Ma Zheng, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Greater China, Nike; and Shan Wenjun, General Manager of Government Affairs, Greater China, GE Aerospace.
Panelists discussed multinational companies’ development in China, market positioning, supply chain resilience, technological transformation, and new areas for US-China economic and trade cooperation. Drawing on their respective industry practices, they shared perspectives on the shift in China’s market from execution to innovation and standards-setting, the two-way empowerment between China’s value chains and global operations, and emerging opportunities in green development and the low-altitude economy.
White Paper Launch
Hart also introduced the official launch of the 2026 White Paper. In his closing remarks, he thanked all participants, reiterating the Chamber’s commitment to fostering dialogue among government, business, and academia, and to supporting the continued development of US-China economic and trade relations.
Click here to learn more about the 2026 White Paper.