by Yasir Habib Khan 

 

 

Two-day China Development Forum (CDF) 2025, ended on March 24, set the tone of global oneness to let world steer toward global development for a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth in face of rising trends of protectionism, unilateralism and decoupling. 

 

From the onset to conclusion, Chinese leadership put the best foot forward to get the narrative across that future economic survival lies in partnership instead competition. This year's forum, with the theme of "unleashing development momentum for stable growth of global economy," that attracted more than 100 representatives both from home and abroad, including entrepreneurs, government officials, experts, scholars and representatives of international organizations, is expected to chart a fresh blueprint of win-win cooperation.  

 

More "new friends" are attending this year's event, including multinational enterprises from 21 countries. Business executives from US companies Apple and Pfizer, Europe's Siemens and BMW, South Korea's Samsung, Japan's Mizuho Financial Group, as well as companies in Malaysia, Brazil and other Global South countries, are actively participating in the forum. From manufacturing, finance to services, the international business community's "leaders" and "new forces" have gathered in Beijing.

 

The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) pledged to continue to bolster policies for stabilizing foreign trade and support enterprises in securing orders, exploring new markets, promoting cross-border e-commerce by improving logistics services for cross-border delivery and boosting development of overseas warehouses.

 

As a part of ease of doing business for the facilitation of foreign companies, CDF has become staunch voice of cultivating new growth drivers, such as green trade and digital trade, and support localities where conditions permit in developing new types of offshore trade. 

 

It is heartening to note that top brass of foreign companies could not help showing healthy admiration on the China-driven “Global development agenda” that is destined to change the fate of global west and global south. 

 

Roland Busch, president and chief executive officer of Siemens AG, hailed China's contribution to the growth of the global economy and green transition during an opening address at the China Development Forum 2025 (CDF) in Beijing.

 

Noting that the world's economy is undergoing a massive transformation driven by many aspects, Busch said China has found the answer to issues surrounding global growth by focusing on high-tech, higher efficiency, and high-quality growth.

 

"The government of China is taking action. China is even going one step further, changing the operating system of its economy to unleash new quality productive forces," Busch said, adding that the government of China is continuously working on creating a level playing field and a fairer business environment. 

 

"To master the world's major challenges, to unleash further growth potentials, companies need to create powerful ecosystems, supported by governments," he said. "If we collaborate, we will turn challenges into opportunities. If we collaborate, we will create better lives, common prosperity – sustainably." 

 

Meanwhile, former Australian State Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews praised China's new quality productive forces as a transformative model, stressing that China's progress in renewable energy deserves far greater global recognition. He also noted that while the United States remains obsessed with "erratic and nonsensical tariff games," Australia and China are forging a new path toward global sustainability through pragmatic collaboration.

 

Right now, the global economic recovery is on the go-slow mode, the confrontational trade ambience has not ceased to exit, and global unity is yet to be restored wriggling out of clouds of antagonism in international arena. However, the convening of the forum has provided ideas to navigate out of the haze. While certain countries are busy building walls and drawing lines, caught in the quagmire of the "zero-sum game" mentality, China insisted on paving the way and building bridges, and extends a sincere invitation to the world by "comprehensively releasing the kinetic energy of development.

 

To date, China has granted 13 foreign-invested companies access to value-added telecom services, over 40 foreign-funded biotechnology projects have kicked off, and three new wholly foreign-owned hospitals have been approved for operation. 

 

This step will help make China a favored destination for foreign investment. MOFCOM helped resolve more than 500 issues for foreign-funded enterprises through roundtable meetings and pledged continuous efforts to improve service and business environment for foreign investors.