Diplomats, business representatives listen intently as a speaker at the CCG VIP Luncheon shares insights on China’s economic outlook and global trends on March, 14, 2025. Photo: courtesy of CCG

 

Diplomats, experts, and business representatives attending the Center for China and Globalization (CCG)'s first VIP Luncheon in 2025 in Beijing, which is held on March 14, 2025. Photo: courtesy of CCG

 
At a high-profile globalization think tank forum held on Friday, diplomats, scholars and policymakers voiced growing confidence in China's 2025 economic trajectory, citing tech breakthroughs, thriving private-sector entrepreneurship, and targeted policy momentum from the two sessions, while Asian and European envoys pledged to deepen trade and investment ties despite global headwinds.

The meeting, hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), a leading Chinese non-governmental think tank, marked its first VIP Luncheon of the year, aiming to brief representatives from foreign embassies, international organizations, business groups, multinational corporations, and academic experts on China's latest developments and policy priorities, particularly following the just-concluded two sessions.

Friday's discussions centered on the key outcomes of this year's two sessions, with a focus on several critical areas, including the green transition, technological progress, rural revitalization, social governance, and infrastructure development.

The two sessions in China are a spectacular annual political event that serves to build consensus, restore the confidence and chart a course for the years ahead, Wang Huiyao, president of CCG and a former counsellor of the State Council, said during the meeting.

Jin Li, member of the National Committee of CPPCC, vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology, pointed to China's ongoing efforts to embrace entrepreneurship, support the private sector, and encourage more scientific breakthroughs, which are serving as the means to develop the new quality productive forces to enhance the quality of economic growth in China.

"With the measures outlined during the two sessions, I am very confident that the Chinese economy is on a trajectory of stabilizing and achieving better outcomes in the years ahead," Jin noted.

Tian Xuan, a delegate to the 14th National People's Congress, dean of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University, expected looser monetary policy to provide more liquidity to the markets, stock market, capital markets, and reduce the financial burdens, financial cost of households, and companies in 2025.

"These will be very powerful policies to help China achieve the 5 percent growth target, so I'm very encouraged," Tian told the meeting.

Djauhari Oratmangun, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to China, also expressed optimism about China's economic prospects in 2025. "I believe China's economy will do better this year," he told the Global Times on the sidelines of the meeting.

China's rising capabilities in technological innovation, such as AI and quantum technology, are key drivers for the country's economic growth, Oratmangun said, highlighting that the policies outlined during this year's two sessions send a "positive signal" to the world, and "the market reaction will also be quite favorable."

"I've seen this positive market response in cities like Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, and I think it's the same in the whole Asian area," he noted.

Oratmangun also pointed to China's policy emphasis on rural development, specifically on how to accelerate rural income. He believes that the combination of these factors will "make China's economy perform much better this year."

Regarding bilateral cooperation, Oratmangun emphasized the growing synergy between Indonesia's global strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative. "We see the relationship getting stronger and stronger," he noted, adding that the increasing volume of bilateral trade, Chinese investment, and closer ties between leaders will "continue to strengthen cooperation between Indonesia and China, bringing benefits to the people of both countries."

Massimo Ambrosetti, the Italian ambassador to China, expressed confidence in two-way investments between Italy and China. "We welcome very much Chinese investments to Italy. Over the past five years, we have seen very few qualified Chinese investments in Italy. Meanwhile, we have continued to invest in China," the ambassador told the Global Times.

Despite facing some challenging times, both sides can find a growth model based on cooperative interaction, cultural dialogue, and a peaceful international context, one that will be mutually beneficial for the two economic systems. "I believe this is what we also refer to as strategic stability in our relations," Ambrosetti added.