China's upcoming seventh Qingdao Multinationals Summit is expected to highlight the country's push for high-standard opening up and deepen cooperation with global businesses, as multinational companies continue to expand investment in the world's second largest economy amid global uncertainties.

On May 26, 2026, the State Council Information Office holds a press conference in Beijing on the 2026 Qingdao Multinationals Summit. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

The summit will be jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Shandong provincial government, and take place in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao from June 15 to 17, said Yan Dong, vice minister of commerce, at a Tuesday press conference.

Since its launch in 2019, the annual summit has played a positive role in promoting China's high-standard opening up and deepening cooperation with multinational companies, Yan said.

He noted that at a time when global economic recovery faces rising uncertainty and new growth sectors such as the digital economy, green development, and advanced manufacturing are rapidly gaining strong momentum, global companies are seeking stable markets, favorable business environments, and long-term cooperation opportunities.

China remains committed to expanding high-standard opening up, tapping into its vast domestic market, and creating broader opportunities for foreign investment, Yan said. "The country will provide strong institutional support and a broad market for all types of businesses, including multinational companies, to expand their footprint in China and pursue long-term development."

Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that in the first four months of this year, more than 20,000 foreign-invested enterprises were set up in China, up 6.8% year on year. Actual use of foreign investment in high-tech industries rose 20.3% from a year earlier.

"The figures demonstrate that China is not only a stabilizing force in the global economy, but also an essential destination for multinationals planning for the future," Yan said.

Yuan Bo, director of the Institute of Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the summit will send a clear signal that China remains firmly committed to expanding high-standard opening up despite growing global uncertainties.

"The summit will focus on China's latest opening-up policies and industrial priorities under the 15th Five-Year Plan, providing greater policy clarity and certainty for multinational companies and helping strengthen investor confidence," she said.

She also said that the summit will strengthen cooperation between multinational companies and Chinese firms across industrial and supply chains, deepen collaboration with upstream and downstream partners, help stabilize global supply chains, and contribute to the recovery of the global economy.

"New energy, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and modern services will remain among the most strategically important areas for cooperation between multinational companies and Chinese firms," Yuan said.

Officials said this year's summit will feature an opening ceremony, a forum on multinational companies' high-quality development, and 23 parallel events covering investment promotion, trade matchmaking, industry exchange, and regional partnerships. It will also release a new edition of the research report "Multinationals in China."

Wen Nuan, vice governor of Shandong province, said the summit would place emphasis on investment promotion while further strengthening Shandong's trade relations with global markets, particularly targeting emerging markets such as partner countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South America, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

So far, 435 corporate representatives have confirmed attendance, including 355 delegates of overseas multinational companies from 36 countries and regions, including the ASEAN member states, the EU, and South Korea, according to Wen.

A drone photo taken on Dec. 4, 2025, shows cargo ships entering and departing from the Qianwan Container Terminal of Qingdao Port in eastern China's Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]