CIIE Special

The China International Import Expo is one of the biggest events of the year for foreign businesses selling goods and services to the Chinese market. Representatives for more than 4,000 companies have come to Shanghai to meet Chinese buyers and make deals. Today on the program, we're going to dig into how CIIE works and hear from businesses that take part year after year.

China remains a major growth market for global businesses. From sportswear and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and beverages, many multinational companies are reporting strong sales growth in the country. These results come amid global economic uncertainty, highlighting the continued appeal of China's consumer market and its vast industrial ecosystem. With the China International Import Expo opening in Shanghai and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting coming up in Shenzhen, the spotlight is once again on China's role in the global economy. What is driving foreign companies' growth in China, and where do the biggest opportunities lie?

China's GDP expanded by 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2026, exceeding analyst expectations. In the third quarter alone, GDP grew 4.5%, quickening from 4.3% in Q2. Trade remained the main engine for the Chinese economy in the third quarter. The data also underscores the challenge that the Chinese economy still leans very much on factories and overseas buyers, while household consumption and private investments are still holding back. Analysts believe fresh policy support will be rolled out to sustain the momentum and help realize the government's growth target of 4.5 to 5% for the year.

Chinese AI models are attracting growing global attention. According to OpenRouter data, DeepSeek's latest model has seen weekly usage surge by more than 800 percent, while Chinese models rank among the top five globally. Apart from powerful models, the AI race also depends on computing capacity, electricity supply, and the cost of running AI at scale. China is investing in a nationwide computing network and integrating renewable energy with data centers to strengthen its digital infrastructure. What is driving China's AI innovation and investment? As competition intensifies, what will ultimately determine who leads the global AI race?

China's economy expanded 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2026, with exports and high-tech manufacturing continuing to provide support, while consumption and industrial output picked up in September. What do the latest numbers reveal about China's growth momentum and economic transformation? Can renewed momentum and an improved structure help sustain growth in the months ahead?

China's economy grew 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2026, reaching more than 107 trillion yuan, or 16 trillion US dollars. Data shows that new growth drivers, including high-end manufacturing, the digital economy, and modern services, contributed more than 40% to economic growth. On the demand side, services are increasingly an important engine of consumer spending. What do these figures tell us about the transformation of China's economy? And what opportunities can China offer to the rest of the world?

China has unveiled 19 new measures to accelerate the development of New Quality Productive Forces, putting tech innovation and industrial upgrading at the heart of its growth strategy. At the forefront are strategic industries such as AI, new-energy vehicles, and semiconductors. China's NEV exports surged 130 percent in the first nine months, while semiconductor exports jumped 99 percent over the same period. What has enabled these strategic industries to develop so rapidly? How sustainable is their momentum in an increasingly competitive global market? And what does China's drive to develop New Quality Productive Forces tell us about its vision for the future of economic growth?

For decades, China-Germany auto cooperation followed a simple model: German technology and expertise meeting a fast-growing Chinese market. That model is changing. China is now a major innovation hub for EVs, batteries and automotive software. As the relationship shifts from one-way learning to co-creation, can the industries expand the automotive innovation frontier—and what does this mean for the global industry?

China's long holiday is offering a fresh look at how consumers are changing the way they spend. Inbound tourism is surging, industrial sites are becoming new attractions, and younger consumers are spending more on sports, leisure, and experiences. International travelers are venturing beyond China’s traditional tourist destinations, while factory floors and production lines are becoming part of their travel experience. At home, climbing, cycling, and camping are creating new forms of holiday spending. What does a good holiday look like for Chinese consumers today? What can these emerging trends tell us about the next phase of China’s domestic demand?

For nearly five decades, the World Economic Forum and China have been part of a changing global economic story. From China's early engagement with Davos to the establishment of the Forum's Beijing office in 2006 and the launch of the annual meeting of the new champions, or summer Davos, in China the following year, that relationship has evolved alongside China's growing role in the global economy. Today, as AI, evolving trade dynamics, and geopolitical shifts reshape the global economic landscape, the center of gravity of the global economy is shifting, while new sources of growth and opportunity are emerging. Against this backdrop, the relationship between the Forum and China is also opening up new possibilities.