China hopes US firms can ‘play a strong role’ after top executives visit Beijing

A delegation from the US-China Business Council met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday

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Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng meets with FedEx Corporation CEO Raj Subramaniam in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:24pm, 23 Jul 2024Updated: 1:26pm, 23 Jul 2024

A heavyweight group of US executives, including FedEx Corporation CEO Raj Subramaniam, met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in China on Monday, with Beijing hoping the influential lobby group can help US firms “play a strong role” in the world’s second-largest economy.

The official People’s Daily newspaper confirmed that US-China Business Council board chair Subramaniam had led the delegation for its meetings with He and Wang.

The visit confirmed an earlier Post report that the group would travel to Beijing to obtain first-hand insight following the conclusion of China’s widely-watched third plenum.

The four-day third plenum concluded on Thursday, with a 22,000-word resolution document unveiled on Sunday containing a wide range of measures approved by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party.

Vice-Premier He said that China hoped the US-China Business Council could “play a strong role” to encourage American firms to seize the opportunities offered during the process of modernisation with China, which would lead to win-win cooperation and development.

A pleasant environment for the US and China will let everybody benefit

Wang Yi

In an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang said that the group came to Beijing “at the right time” because they could feel the “new vibe” of China as it undergoes deep and comprehensive reforms.