On January 15, 2026, at a New York City event hosted by the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA, Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., reaffirmed that the Chinese mainland will stay committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, regardless of global uncertainties. 🤝
The ambassador highlighted that last year, the Chinese mainland’s GDP grew around 5 percent, pushing its total output past 140 trillion yuan (about $20.1 trillion) and accounting for over 30 percent of global growth. Despite external pressures, trade held strong: goods exports and imports rose 3.8 percent, and the trade surplus topped $1 trillion for the first time. 🌏📈
Xie pointed to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics and electric vehicles as proof that innovation is reshaping the Chinese mainland’s economy. He said the 15th Five-Year Plan, which kicked off this year, will leverage institutional, market, industrial and talent strengths to drive new productive forces and boost technological self-reliance.
On the opening-up front, the ambassador noted that the negative list for foreign investment access in the Chinese mainland has shrunk to 29 items, zero-tariff treatment is now applied to all products from least-developed countries with diplomatic ties, and the Hainan Free Trade Port is moving ahead with island-wide independent customs. These moves aim to make the Chinese mainland a more welcoming place for global business. 🌴⚓
In the first 11 months of 2025, over 60,000 new foreign-invested enterprises launched on the Chinese mainland—a 16.9 percent jump. U.S. companies led the way at the China International Import Expo and the China International Supply Chain Expo, marking seven and two consecutive years at the top for exhibition area and number of exhibitors, respectively.
Looking forward, Xie Feng sees huge potential in the Chinese mainland’s expanding middle-income group—expected to exceed 800 million people in the next decade—and growth industries like new energy, advanced materials and aerospace. He called on both Chinese and U.S. firms to deepen cooperation on fair, non-discriminatory terms, unlocking opportunities for all. 🚀
Reference(s):
China's envoy to U.S. says commitment to opening-up will not change
cgtn.com
