At the 2026 Lujiazui Forum, the Chinese economy emerged as a central topic of discussion among participants. Numerous international attendees highlighted the economy's notable resilience and its ongoing commitment to opening up, suggesting these factors will generate significant opportunities globally.
PIMCO President Scott Mather noted that despite a global landscape rife with uncertainties—from tariff barriers and trade frictions to energy supply shocks—the Chinese economy has demonstrated remarkable toughness. He pointed to its stable trade balance and particularly strong export competitiveness as clear economic advantages and sources of development opportunity that are widely recognized.
Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific President Kevin Sneader stated that their confidence stems primarily from China's robust manufacturing strength, a momentum that continues to be evident in its export performance. He highlighted sectors like solar energy and automotive batteries, where global demand remains high, as key drivers providing substantial momentum for the Chinese economy.
Lord Mayor of the City of London William Russell commented on China's impressive and robust economic growth trajectory. He expressed that each visit to China leaves him struck by the pace of innovation and expansion, with this week's observations being particularly powerful. He described the speed of China's innovation and economic development as astonishing, noting vast potential for collaboration and an exciting, promising future that he looks forward to with great anticipation.
Many foreign participants indicated that the series of financial opening-up policies unveiled at this year's forum send a clear signal of China's commitment to high-level financial openness, creating more opportunities for multinational corporations to deepen their engagement in the Chinese market.
Former Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giovanni Tria observed that China is continuously advancing the opening of its financial markets. As its economy has grown to become a major global player, China is now playing a significant role and assuming greater responsibilities on the world stage.
AustralianSuper Chief Investment Officer Ben Squires expressed great satisfaction with the opening-up policies discussed at the forum. He emphasized that understanding Shanghai's progress as a financial hub, especially initiatives supporting the technology ecosystem, is very positive. As investors, these are areas of keen interest, which consequently gives them greater confidence in allocating capital to China.
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