“Insights from the China Development Forum: Meeting China’s New Leadership”

I recently attended the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing, an annual gathering of high-level foreign business leaders, academics, former policymakers and senior Chinese officials. This year’s conference was the first to be held in person since 2019 and offered Western observers the opportunity to meet China’s new top leadership, including new Premier Li Qiang.

At the event, Li Qiang was given the opportunity to meet foreign representatives for the first time since taking office. While there has been much talk of Chinese President Xi Jinping appointing loyalists to key positions in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and government, our discussions with Li Qiang and other senior Chinese officials provided a more nuanced view of their policies and leadership style.