Leader, Partner, or Competitor?

Description

China’s global economic aspirations have taken center stage, with President Xi Jinping’s recent meeting in Beijing with a delegation of global CEOs offering fresh insight into the country’s evolving strategy. While projecting an image of cooperation and “win-win” outcomes, these high-level engagements also highlight China’s desire to reassure foreign investors and expand international collaboration on its own terms. At the same time, Beijing is keen to deepen domestic self-reliance in key industries—underscoring its dual objectives of attracting global partners while fortifying strategic sectors at home. This dynamic interplay between openness and self-sufficiency shapes the debate over whether China will emerge primarily as a global economic leader, a strategic partner, or a formidable competitor in the years ahead.

Speakers

Michael Roberts

Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

John Mukum Mbaku

Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & John S. Hinckley Research Fellow , Weber State University

Yu Hongyuan

Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Public Policy and Innovation Studies, Center for European Studies

Sam Bresnick

Research Fellow, Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology,

Guided Questions

Michael Roberts

Ongoing trade frictions between the U.S. and China, including those related to WTO Sec. 301 proceedings, highlight significant tensions in industrial policy and technology transfer. How might these disputes intersect with the commercial shipping and shipbuilding sectors, especially if China seeks to leverage global CEO engagement to secure favorable trade or investment deals?

John Mukum Mbaku

China’s deepening economic engagement in Africa and other developing regions often raises questions about debt sustainability, governance, and local sovereignty. In your view, what legal or institutional safeguards should these host nations adopt to ensure equitable outcomes and transparency?

Yu Hongyuan

From your research on global warming and energy diplomacy, how do you see China integrating environmental commitments into its global economic strategy, particularly when forming partnerships with energy-intensive industries?

Sam Bresnick

China often portrays itself as open for business and a responsible global actor. In the face of geopolitical tensions, how successful has Beijing been in shaping this narrative, and what might be the implications for international partnerships?