China is poised to play a pivotal role in navigating evolving global trade dynamics, according to participants at the 2025 Summer Davos held in north China's Tianjin Municipality.
The forum, which concluded on Thursday, highlighted global trade development as a main focus of discussions among domestic and international attendees.
Also known as the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the three-day event centered on the theme "Entrepreneurship for a New Era." Over 1,700 leaders and experts from more than 90 countries and regions convened to examine how innovation and emerging technologies can drive resilient economic growth.
A crucial topic was preserving the multilateral trading system amid rising challenges. In 2024, discriminatory trade barriers surpassed 1,200 globally, posing an unprecedented threat to free trade. Despite these barriers, participants noted that global trade has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, even in the face of geopolitical tensions and lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"What we have seen is global trade is very flexible, very adaptable. It's largely due to the fact that there's multilateral rules around trade, that even if there's a disruption here, generally firms in other countries, they're going to know what the rules are and how they can adapt and adjust," said Robert Koopman, former chief economist of World Trade Organization.
Participants highlighted China’s pivotal role in reshaping trade. As the world’s growth engine - contributing roughly 30 percent to global GDP - China has deepened market integration and industrial cooperation, extending its developmental benefits worldwide.
"We have built the largest infant formula plant in Canada, North America. In the future, we aim to provide premium raw materials worldwide while sharing our expertise internationally, accelerating our contribution to global sustainable development," said Leng Youbin, chairman of Feihe Group.
"China’s manufacturing capabilities, supporting capacities, and supply chain strengths benefit not only domestic markets but also global demand. Without multilateral trade, China’s high-quality goods and services would remain confined within borders. Therefore, we have consistently advocated for maintaining normal trade relations among nations," said Yu Feng, President of Honeywell China.
"I think that in order to keep the world trade flowing, the role of China is fundamental. And the rise of China, as the second largest for the moment, manufacturing and economy in the world certainly creates great potentialities for the cooperation between our two countries. If we were able to find a common ground, agree upon common rules, we will be able together to do much more," said Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy.
Summer Davos participants highlight China's key role in shaping global trade
