EICN Shanghai Breakfast Event: China’s High-Quality Development

China’s shift from a growth-at-all-costs approach toward high-quality development marks a significant change in its economic strategy, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. At the core of this transition are “new productive forces”—fueled by advancements in the digital economy, high-tech industries, and green technology. But while the ambition is clear, political and economic uncertainties cloud the longer-term outlook.

How much will geopolitical tensions and rising trade barriers hinder domestic growth? As policymakers emphasize industrial modernization and global supply chain resilience, how much of these new forces will remain concentrated in capital-intensive manufacturing, and to what extent will they drive China’s necessary shift toward a more consumption-driven, service-oriented economy?

Scholars agree that a sustainable shift toward high-quality development requires deep institutional reforms—particularly in governance, regulation, market liberalization, and social services. But are we seeing tangible progress, and if so, in which areas?

Join us for a thoughtful and nuanced discussion that explores these dynamics and their strategic implications for companies operating in China.