By Layla Zulfa 
BEIJING – In a powerful testament to the enduring allure of the Chinese market, over 80 chief executives and top global business leaders, representing titans from Apple to Eli Lilly, gathered in Beijing this past weekend for the prestigious China Development Forum (CDF) 2026. The annual state-organized event, held from March 22-24 at the historic Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, served as a critical platform for dialogue between China’s top policymakers and the international corporate community, coming at a pivotal moment marked by complex U.S.-China trade dynamics and a global economic recalibration.
The high-profile attendance, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Siemens CEO Roland Busch, underscored a renewed and vigorous interest in capturing the burgeoning Chinese consumer market. This sentiment marks a notable shift following several years of navigating the multifaceted challenges posed by the global Covid-19 pandemic, a period of slower domestic economic growth, and persistent U.S. trade tensions that have reshaped global supply chains and investment strategies. Executives’ remarks throughout the forum reflected a strategic re-engagement, emphasizing localization, sustainability, and innovation as key drivers for future growth within the world’s second-largest economy.
Apple’s Strategic Reaffirmation and Market Resilience
A focal point of the forum was the address by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who took the stage on Sunday, following Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s opening remarks. Cook’s presence, fresh off a significant recovery in
