Premier Li Qiang to deliver keynote at the 2025 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, signalling China’s renewed push for global trade

China | 3 November 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to inaugurate the 8th­annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai today, marking a high-profile moment in Beijing’s push for deeper engagement with global trade and foreign business.

A showcase of China’s trade ambition

The CIIE, running from November 5 to November 10, 2025, will attract thousands of exhibitors and buyers from around the world, spanning sectors from consumer goods and automobiles to high-tech and services. By attending the opening ceremony and delivering the keynote address, Premier Li signals a clear policy direction: China intends not only to maintain but expand its role as a major node in global commerce.

Sources say Li plans to visit booths of American and other foreign firms during the expo. This is intended to send a strong message that China remains open to overseas investment and international supply-chain participation, even amid trade tensions and structural change.

Strategic context: Why this matters

China’s economy has faced a range of headwinds — from slowing growth to external trade pressures and shifts in global supply-chains. In previous statements, Premier Li has emphasised the need for China to become not only a manufacturing powerhouse but a major “mega-consumer market” that foreign companies can access.

The CIIE provides a tangible manifestation of that ambition: a fully-fledged import expo that invites global participation, rather than a purely export-focused trade show. Foreign-business observers view it as a platform for China to reset or reaffirm its openness narrative and perhaps ease some market-access barriers for non-Chinese firms.

What to watch during the expo

Key themes and expectations for the event include:

• Foreign-firm participation and visibility: Premier Li’s planned visits to foreign company pavilions will place overseas firms in the spotlight. Analysts will be watching whether China offers tangible access, concessions or incentives in return.
• New trade and investment announcements: The opening speech and subsequent sessions may include policy signals, new bilateral or multilateral trade deals, or updated regulations on imports/exports.
• Technology and supply-chain integration: Given global shifts in supply-chains (amid Sino-US tech tensions, reshoring efforts, etc.), one focus will be how China invites foreign technology, services and investment into its market ecosystems.
• Consumer-market growth: As China pivots toward domestic consumption, the expo is likely to highlight opportunities in upgraded-consumer goods, services, and cross-border e-commerce.

Challenges & signals from abroad

Despite the fanfare, foreign businesses remain cautious. Concerns include regulatory burdens, inconsistent enforcement of commitments, and the broader geopolitical climate. Some Western observers say the event may be as much about optics as substance. Still, participation and reception of foreign companies during the expo will provide concrete data points on whether China’s opening-up rhetoric holds up.

For China, the timing is deliberate. The country is keen to show the world it remains a reliable trade partner and market destination even in an era of increasing economic fragmentation. Through the CIIE and Premier Li’s presence, Beijing wants to demonstrate that globalisation remains essential and beneficial.

Impact on global trade flows

The expo could shape trade flows and investment decisions in several ways:

• Increased imports: If China signals new import quotas, lower tariffs, or streamlined customs for key sectors, global exporters may see renewed opportunities.
• Supply-chain realignment: Foreign firms that have diversified away from China may recalibrate their strategies if the expo delivers stronger access or clearer incentives.
• Foreign investment momentum: Investors will pay attention to how China frames foreign-company access, intellectual-property protections, and joint-venture rules — all areas where lingering uncertainty remains.
• Brand positioning: For many firms, exhibiting at CIIE is about visibility in one of the world’s largest consumer markets. Positive outcomes here can bolster brand strategy in Asia-Pacific broadly.

What it means for China domestically

For China, the expo supports multiple internal goals: boosting consumption, accelerating industrial upgrading, and reinforcing the idea that China’s economy is integrated with global trade. The message to domestic audiences and global firms alike is that openness is here to stay. Premier Li’s rhetoric and the event’s structure reinforce this narrative.

That said, execution matters. The real test will be whether announcements at the expo translate into measurable reforms: faster market entry, clearer regulatory pathways, and fewer systemic barriers for foreign firms. Absent follow-through, the signal could ring hollow.

Immediate next steps

Following the opening ceremony:

• The State Council and commerce ministry will likely release supporting policy documents or customised incentives for key sectors.
• Exhibiting companies will start negotiations with Chinese buyers, local partners, and regulators; their feedback over the next few days will offer early indications of momentum.
• Media and analysts will monitor deal announcements, foreign-firm access statements, and any unexpected policy pivots or reversals.
• For foreign businesses, the expo will serve as a testing ground: how seriously is China inviting them in, and how much friction remains?

Broader significance

In a time of rising geoeconomic fragmentation and shifting supply-chain logic, the CIIE and Premier Li’s attendance send a broader message: that China still wants to be a hub of global trade, investment and supply-chain connectivity. Whether this represents structural change or a tactical repositioning remains to be seen. The coming days will offer early signals.

Source: