Global CEOs to Convene in Beijing as China Seeks Foreign Investment Amid Economic Challenges

Dozens of global CEOs will attend the China Development Forum in Beijing on March 23-24, with some expected to meet President Xi Jinping on March 28. This high-profile event comes as China seeks to attract foreign investment amid U.S. tariff pressures and slowing economic growth.

Executives from major corporations, including FedEx, Siemens, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Qualcomm, AstraZeneca, Nestlé, Saudi Aramco, Citadel, Rio Tinto, Estee Lauder, Standard Chartered, KPMG, and Deutsche Bank, are expected to attend, according to a draft agenda seen by Reuters.

While a higher proportion of European CEOs are participating, fewer U.S. executives will attend this year due to heightened geopolitical tensions. Leading American chip firms Broadcom and Synopsys are sending their CEOs, while Micron’s CFO is also invited. However, Google, Illumina, PVH, and Walmart—currently under Chinese regulatory scrutiny—are absent from the agenda.

China’s foreign direct investment declined 13.4% year-on-year in January. Meanwhile, Beijing is prioritizing domestic consumption growth to offset economic pressures, with forum discussions expected to focus on China’s medical sector and boosting consumer demand.

Xi’s anticipated meeting with a select group of foreign CEOs follows his engagement with American business leaders last year, where he reassured them of China’s long-term growth prospects. However, skepticism remains among foreign investors, with European executives citing “promise fatigue” over China’s pro-business commitments.

With China maintaining a 5% economic growth target for 2025, the forum serves as a key platform for Beijing to rebuild investor confidence and navigate the complex global economic landscape.