BEIJING DAILY - 23 MARCH 2026
Vice Premier HE Meets U.S.-China Business Council Extending Corporate Outreach Pattern; Commerce Minister WANG Engages German Auto/Industrial CEOs; XI Inspects Xiong'an Development Zone; Finance Minister LAN Addresses China Development Forum
Vice Premier He Lifeng Meets US-China Business Council Delegation
Vice Premier He Lifeng met with US-China Business Council delegation on March 23, welcoming US companies to seize China development opportunities and deepen cooperation. Continues pattern of high-level economic outreach.
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao Meets German Auto and Industrial CEOs
Wang Wentao held meetings with Bosch Group Chairman Hartung, Volkswagen CEO Obermue, and BASF Executive Board Chairman Brückner on March 23. Part of sustained outreach to European multinationals amid economic uncertainty.
Xi Jinping Inspects Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province
President Xi conducted inspection tour of Xiong'an New Area on March 23. High-level visit signals continued priority for major development zone near Beijing.
Finance Minister Lan Fo'an Attends China Development Forum 2026
Finance Minister Lan Fo'an attended China Development Forum 2026 annual meeting on March 23. Senior economic officials engaging international business community during strategic planning period.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Vice Premier HE Lifeng on 23 March received a U.S.-China Business Council delegation, welcoming American companies to "seize China development opportunities and deepen cooperation" — the engagement extends the senior leadership outreach pattern documented in 22 March cables when Premier LI Qiang pledged to address trade surplus concerns at the China Development Forum, signaling Beijing's sustained effort to preserve corporate channels and defuse business community pressure during the U.S. tariff truce despite USTR GREER's 20 March launch of 60 Section 301 forced labor investigations. Commerce Minister WANG Wentao on 23 March held separate meetings with Bosch Group Chairman Stefan HARTUNG, Volkswagen CEO Arno OBERMUE, and BASF Executive Board Chairman Markus BRUECKNER, continuing the European multinational engagement documented in earlier cables and reflecting Beijing's dual-track strategy of maintaining Western corporate ties while navigating trade tensions. President XI Jinping on 23 March conducted an inspection tour of Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province, signaling continued priority for the major development zone near Beijing that serves as a testbed for urban planning models and economic restructuring — the high-level visit underscores regime focus on domestic growth engines amid external economic headwinds. Finance Minister LAN Fo'an on 23 March attended the China Development Forum 2026 annual meeting, joining the senior economic officials' engagement with international business community during China's 15th Five-Year Plan strategic planning period. END SUMMARY.
