On May 28, 2025, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Dan Simkowitz, Co-President of Morgan Stanley, in Beijing.

During the meeting, Vice Premier He affirmed China’s commitment to promoting high-quality development through an open economic framework that benefits both the Chinese and global economies.

He expressed a warm welcome to U.S.-funded financial institutions and long-term capital, encouraging continuous and deepened cooperation to enhance the development of China’s capital markets.

Simkowitz noted the recent progress in U.S.-China economic and trade negotiations and expressed Morgan Stanley's intent to provide premium services to facilitate investment cooperation between U.S. and Chinese enterprises.

In a related development, China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) has established a memorandum of understanding with the central bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to foster cross-border payment cooperation.

This agreement aims to enhance infrastructure and efficiency in cross-border payments, with CIPS and the UAE central bank collaborating to provide local currency clearing services to financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.

Additionally, the collaboration intends to strengthen risk management and compliance measures, thus enhancing the safety and stability of the cross-border payment systems.

Trade relations between the U.S. and China have shown a significant uptick following recent economic discussions.

According to a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, there has been a notable surge in orders from U.S. buyers, with shipping services operating at full capacity due to high demand.

The spokesperson highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of economic ties between the two nations, emphasizing that cooperation has yielded tangible benefits for both countries' consumers and businesses.

As China continues to cultivate deeper ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), trade between China and ASEAN has increased significantly, marking a 9.2% rise to 2.38 trillion yuan in early 2025. This growth is attributed to China’s expansive market and the integration of ASEAN member economies into Chinese supply chains, highlighting the role of localized centers for the exchange of goods and services.

Leading financial institutions have recently adjusted their forecasts for China's GDP growth in 2025, with organizations such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley upgrading their estimates in response to China's progressive economic policies and improved trade relations with the U.S. Goldman Sachs, for example, increased its growth forecast from 4% to 4.6%.

Pro-growth measures implemented by the Chinese government, such as expanded fiscal policies and a consumer goods trade-in program, are contributing to anticipated improvements in personal consumption and overall economic stability.

Furthermore, China is actively engaging with European nations to bolster trade relations.

A recent roundtable for semiconductor companies highlighted the necessity for collaboration in the sector, aiming to tackle challenges faced by the global semiconductor supply chain.

These discussions occur in the context of ongoing efforts to fortify economic and trade exchanges between China and the European Union amid rising global trade tensions.

The completion of negotiations on the upgraded Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) underscores a commitment to fostering inclusive economic development and reflects the ongoing momentum toward enhanced regional trade integration.

This upgraded pact introduces new chapters focusing on the digital economy, green technologies, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, further enriching trade avenues within the region.