At the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on 5 November 2025, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced that the country’s economy is expected to exceed RMB 170 trillion (approximately US$23.87 trillion) by 2030.
According to Li, achieving this milestone will require not only boosting domestic production and consumption, but also deepening trade cooperation with foreign countries. He called for a more open and transparent global trade system, arguing that rising tariffs and trade barriers are hurting worldwide business and development.
The Premier said that China expects its economy to grow at around 4% per year over the next five years, making the 2030 target “inevitable” under current policy frameworks and the upcoming five-year plan. He noted that the current economy is valued at roughly US $19 trillion.
Li’s remarks were framed as part of China’s broader pitch to global business: make China your partner, deepen imports of high-quality goods and leverage the world’s largest emerging market. The expo drew participation from over 4,100 international enterprises, underlining China’s ambition to remain a key engine of global growth.
While the projection aligns with China’s industrial and consumption agenda, analysts note that slower growth in recent years, export-import imbalances and external trade pressures remain constraints. Nonetheless, the stated target signals Beijing’s confidence in its structural transition and global trade strategy.
