The 2025 Central Economic Work Conference proposes promoting integration of trade and investment to advance China's open economy high-quality development. It analyzes the evolution of trade-investment relations, China's current status, strategic considerations amid global economic changes, and key tasks for integration to enhance its global value chain position and build a strong trading nation.

On January 27th, the 2026 UN-China Sustainable Development Cooperation Joint Steering Committee meeting was held in Beijing. Both sides planned new-cycle cooperation priorities around the 15th Five-Year Plan, supported multilateralism, and aimed to advance the 2030 Agenda and South-South cooperation.

According to Xinhua, AmCham China's 2026 China Business Environment Survey Report shows nearly 60% of surveyed US firms plan to increase investment in China; most don't consider shifting production. CCPIT notes foreign investment confidence, with Chinese outbound investment growing steadily.

US Trade Representative Greer stated new China-US trade talks may start before possible April summit. China's MOFCOM/FM spokespersons emphasized maintaining bilateral consensus and using consultation mechanisms. Vice Premier He Lifeng held China-US economic and trade talks with US Treasury Sec Bessent at Davos. Both sides have had multiple rounds of talks, with some unresolved differences needing further negotiation.

The TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Egypt's Suhena Spring, a key Belt and Road project, has attracted nearly 200 enterprises, $3.8 billion investment and 10,000 local jobs by end-2025, forming industrial clusters and becoming a hub for China-Egypt economic cooperation.

On December 18, 2025, Hainan Free Trade Port launched full island closure, implementing "opening first tier, regulating second tier" policy. Customs introduced convenience measures (direct release, batch declaration), expanded zero tariff list, upgraded offshore duty-free, benefiting enterprises and driving economic growth.

British Prime Minister Stamer will pay an official visit to China from Jan 28-31 (first in 8 years). China and UK are important economic and trade partners, with expected bilateral trade volume reaching $103.7b by 2025. During the visit, trade and investment cooperation documents will be signed, and both sides adhere to free trade to promote complementary cooperation in multiple fields.

The 2025 China Economic Report highlights strong resilience in China's foreign trade, with 4.547 trillion yuan in goods trade (world's largest for 9 consecutive years). It features diversified markets (240+ countries, emerging market growth), BRI cooperation, industrial upgrading (excavators, industrial robots), and global recognition, injecting certainty into global trade.

The 2025 China foreign trade report highlights diversification: reduced top 10 partner concentration, 249 trade relations (more with large scales), growth with 60%+ regions. Private enterprises grow, Chinese manufacturing innovates, imports expand, boosting global trade stability.

The European Parliament passed a motion to submit the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement to the ECJ for review, slowing its approval and highlighting EU internal issues (interest distribution, political ecology, strategic positioning). The 25-year mutually beneficial agreement is crucial for EU's market diversification, raw material security, and strategic autonomy, but delays stem from its own governance challenges.

Vice Minister Yan Dong stated on Jan 26, 2025 that China and the US conducted five rounds of economic and trade consultations with positive results, maintained communication via the consultation mechanism, promoted summit consensus implementation, and will continue to manage differences for stable bilateral economic and trade relations.

On Jan 26, 2026, MOFCOM officials responded at a State Council Info Office press conference to China's 2026 plans: boost consumption, innovate foreign trade, expand two-way investment, optimize consumption policies, stabilize foreign trade, and shape new FDI advantages.

On January 22nd, Ling Ji, Chinese Deputy Commerce Minister, presided over a roundtable for British-funded enterprises. Representatives discussed deepening China-UK economic and trade cooperation, focusing on service trade opportunities under China's 15th Five-Year Plan, with enterprises expressing confidence in the Chinese market.

The 13th round of China-Korea FTA second phase negotiations was held in Beijing from Jan 19-23, 2026, with positive progress on cross-border service trade, investment, etc. The original FTA took effect in 2015, aiming to upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

On January 22, 2026, a WTO small ministerial meeting was held in Davos. Chinese Deputy Minister Li Chenggang attended, emphasized WTO rules' importance, supported reform, Investment Facilitation Agreement and e-commerce tariff exemption. Parties recognized WTO's value and supported the 14th Ministerial Conference. Li also met with multiple representatives.

Ministry of Commerce and 9 other departments issued Opinions on promoting high-quality development of China's pharmaceutical retail industry, covering background (industry expansion, transformation need) and 5 key measures (service improvement, health innovation, emergency supply, structure optimization, order standardization). It will guide local implementation to meet people's health needs.

Ningbo Customs outlines standardized declaration requirements for exported heating products (e.g., electric blankets, heaters), covering key elements (purpose, working mode, brand, etc.) and specific examples for different product categories.

In 2025, Hainan's private enterprises delivered strong foreign trade performance (197.54b yuan, +11.5% YoY), leading the province's foreign trade for 6 years. They covered 120+ countries/regions, expanded in emerging/traditional markets, and drove high-quality development via innovation, supported by Hainan Free Trade Port policies.

On January 15, Sun Meijun (Director General of China's General Administration of Customs) met with Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood McDonald and his delegation. They exchanged views on implementing China-Canada leaders' strategic consensus, deepening customs inspection/quarantine cooperation, promoting safe agricultural/food trade, and online electronic certificate verification. Deputy Zhao Zenglian attended.

The 2025 China foreign trade report shows total import-export hit 45.47t yuan (up 3.8%, 9th consecutive growth). Zhejiang ranks 3rd (5.55t yuan, up 5.4%), driven by new three products (EVs, lithium batteries, photovoltaics) and structural optimization. Regional highlights include Guangdong leading, central-western high growth, and Anhui’s first trillion-yuan foreign trade. Future trends focus on intelligent/green development, market diversification, and new formats like cross-border e-commerce.