On April 25, AmCham China hosted the 2025 Government Affairs Conference and launched the 27th edition of the American Business in China White Paper, attracting over 100 professionals from the government affairs community. The theme of the event was Redefining Strategy: Business in China Amid Changing US-China Relations.
During the conference, the 2025 White Paper was officially released. This annual flagship publication, comprising 37 chapters, provides a comprehensive assessment of China’s business environment from the perspective of foreign enterprises. The White Paper is co-authored by representatives from hundreds of AmCham China member companies and offers in-depth analysis on industry-specific issues, cross-sectoral challenges, and regional developments.
Michael Hart, President of AmCham China, opened the event with welcoming remarks and introduced key guests including Alvin Liu, Chair of AmCham China; Claire Ma, Vice President of AmCham China; Fan Zhang, Deputy Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce; and Professor Qi Chen of Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences and Director of the Tsinghua Center for US-China Relations. Hart underscored the Chamber’s role as a bridge between the US and China and emphasized the importance of dialogue in strengthening bilateral cooperation.
In his remarks, Alvin Liu highlighted the collaborative nature of the White Paper, noting that it reflects the insights of industry leaders and the contributions of member companies. He emphasized the relevance of the conference theme in light of the evolving US-China relationship, expressing hope that shared challenges can be transformed into opportunities for cooperation.
Fan Zhang praised the White Paper for its contribution to improving China’s business environment. He noted that bilateral trade has grown from less than US $2.5 billion in 1979 to nearly US $700 billion today. While acknowledging existing challenges, he reiterated China’s commitment to further opening up, enhancing the business environment, and supporting fair treatment for foreign enterprises.
Professor Qi Chen delivered a keynote speech titled The Shockwaves of Trump 2.0 and US-China Relations, discussing the evolution of the bilateral relationship since 2017. He urged both sides to engage in high-level dialogue and advised companies to adopt flexible strategies in the face of ongoing uncertainty.
Panel Discussions: Addressing Challenges and Strategy Redefinition
In the first panel, Evolving US-China Economic and Trade Relations: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Proposals, Bing Zhou, Head of Government Affairs and Vice President, Vantive, moderated a discussion with Tao Xie of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Weijia Wang of Dell Technologies, and Qiang Gu of Teneo. Panelists addressed policy unpredictability, global supply chain resilience, and strategies for navigating regulatory risks.
Peng Zhou, Vice President and Macroeconomic Analyst at CICC Research Department, gave a keynote address titled Reshaping China’s Growth Model for the Future, noting strong Q1 2025 economic performance and forecasting long-term growth through financial and innovation reforms.
The second panel, Reshaping Strategy: Government Affairs and Business Prospects in the Era of US-China Strategic Competition and Cooperation, was moderated by Qiang Lv, Global Vice President of Government Affairs at Abbott Laboratories. Panelists Chang Liu of Cargill and Kenneth Zhou of JunHe LLP discussed internal coordination, compliance management, and strategic communications between China-based teams and global headquarters.
Hart then spoke again to present the official release of the 2025 White Paper, reinforcing that the publication is not only a reflection of challenges but also a critical tool for facilitating dialogue between the US and Chinese governments. He reiterated AmCham China’s commitment to advocating for improved market access and a level playing field for its members.
At the close of the conference, Hart also presented certificates to the contributors of the White Paper and delivered closing remarks, expressing sincere thanks to all member companies and participants. Click here to learn more about the 2025 White Paper.
Special thanks to Amway, Abbott, and Dell Technologies for their support of this event.
