Economy

China’s Premier Urges Businesses to Bolster Resilience, Eyes Economic Targets Amidst Global Trade Uncertainties

China‘s Premier urged businesses to build resilience, reaffirming its 5% GDP growth target amid global uncertainties.

October 15, 2025, 7:43 AM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang wearing a navy suit and red tie speaks at a podium during the UN General Assembly session.

The Premier of China, Li Qiang, is shown delivering a speech from the official podium during the high-level debate at the United Nations in New York. By noamgalai / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged businesses to cultivate resilience and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to its annual economic targets.

The symposium took place amid persistent trade tensions with the United States and just days before a pivotal Communist Party gathering expected to outline China’s next five-year plan.

Attendees expressed an upbeat outlook, noting China’s economic resilience, while Beijing maintains a GDP growth target of “around 5 per cent” for the year.

The Story So Far

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s recent symposium, aimed at bolstering confidence and encouraging economic resilience, was held amid persistent trade tensions with the United States and just days before a pivotal Communist Party gathering expected to outline China’s next five-year plan. During this meeting, Premier Li reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to its annual GDP growth target of “around 5 per cent,” highlighting the nation’s focus on internal economic strength to navigate global uncertainties and achieve its objectives.

Why This Matters

Premier Li Qiang’s call for businesses to cultivate resilience and his reaffirmation of China’s “around 5 per cent” GDP growth target underscore Beijing’s determination to maintain economic stability and confidence. This pre-conclave messaging aims to unify domestic sentiment and align key stakeholders with the government’s long-term economic vision, strategically countering persistent trade tensions and global uncertainties by emphasizing internal strength and a unified national effort towards achieving its growth objectives.

Who Thinks What?

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged the nation’s businesses to cultivate resilience, strengthen confidence, and remain committed to achieving the annual economic growth targets.

Business leaders and academics attending the symposium expressed an upbeat outlook, suggesting China’s economy has demonstrated resilience with favorable factors accumulating despite challenges.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged the nation’s businesses to cultivate resilience and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to its annual economic targets during a recent symposium with business leaders and academics. The meeting, held amid persistent trade tensions with the United States and just days before a pivotal Communist Party gathering, aimed to bolster confidence and encourage a “broader perspective” on the economic situation.

Premier’s Call for Confidence

Premier Li emphasized the need for a comprehensive understanding of the current economic climate. According to state news agency Xinhua, he stated that it is crucial to “further strengthen confidence, face problems squarely and stay firmly committed to doing our work well.”

The symposium took place less than a week before a significant Communist Party conclave. This gathering is expected to outline the broad strokes of China’s next five-year plan, providing long-term economic and social development guidance.

Economic Outlook and Targets

Attendees, including entrepreneurs and experts, reportedly expressed an upbeat outlook, according to Xinhua. They suggested that China’s economy has demonstrated resilience under pressure, with “favourable factors continuing to accumulate” despite existing challenges.

Beijing has set an annual target for its gross domestic product (GDP) growth at “around 5 per cent.” This aligns closely with projections from the International Monetary Fund, which, in its World Economic Outlook report published this week, forecast a 4.8 per cent growth rate for China in 2025.

Key Participants

The symposium featured discussions from various business sectors, including Ye Guofu, founder and CEO of the retail giant Miniso. Academic perspectives were also presented by figures such as Xu Qiyuan, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Maintaining Economic Stability

The Premier’s remarks underscore China’s focus on internal economic strength and confidence as it navigates global trade uncertainties and prepares for key policy discussions. The emphasis on resilience and a broader perspective reflects Beijing’s strategy to maintain stability and achieve its growth objectives amidst a complex international environment.