The 2026 Annual Conference of the China Development Forum opened in Beijing on March 22, 2026, with the theme of "China in its 15th Five-Year Plan Period: Advancing High-Quality Development and Creating New Opportunities Together". /VCG
Editor's note: Guan Xin is chief business news editor of CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
The first day of the China Development Forum 2026 delivered a clear message: In a world fraught with uncertainty, China is offering predictability— and global businesses are responding with substantial participation.
Premier Li Qiang's keynote speech set the tone with what he called the "three certainties": Direction, concrete action, and a stable development environment. He put numbers behind the narrative — China's economy is expected to reach 170 trillion yuan in five years, with an incremental 30 trillion yuan in output. He elaborated on 109 major projects spanning traditional sectors like machinery and chemicals as well as emerging fields like AI and new energy. For the multinational executives present, this is not an abstract policy statement; it is a roadmap of business opportunities.
The composition of the foreign delegation underscored the seriousness with which global business views that roadmap. Among the 97 multinationals present, 39 are American — the largest national contingent. Against the backdrop of persistent talk about decoupling, the sheer number of US executives in Beijing spoke louder than any statement.
Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., speaks at the China Development Forum in Beijing, China, March 22, 2026. /VCG
As Premier Li outlined the blueprint, Tim Cook — serving this year as foreign chair of the forum — offered a compelling case study of how multinationals are engaging with China's next phase. He noted that over 90 percent of Apple's production in China now runs on clean energy, and more than 90 suppliers have committed to using 100% renewable power for Apple products by 2030. These are not future promises; they are ongoing investments.
Cook's invocation of a Chinese proverb — "A single tree does not make a forest; a single strain can not make music" — resonated beyond rhetoric. It captured the spirit of the forum: Mutual reliance in an era of fragmentation. By announcing an additional donation to support vocational education in China, Cook linked corporate strategy to long-term human capital development, a theme that runs through China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
The subtext of the day was the contrast between global uncertainty and China's emphasis on stability. While geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions dominate headlines, the CDF offered a different reality: Hundreds of senior executives and senior Chinese officials discussing project lists, supply chains, and investment timelines in the same room.
It sents a clear signal: China is doubling its efforts to play its role as a stabilizing force in the global economy, and a significant portion of global businesses — especially those from the United States — are choosing to engage rather than retreat.