US Ambassador to China David Perdue Photo: American Chamber of Commerce in China's WeChat account

While at the 2026 Annual Appreciation Dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) on Thursday, Chinese and US officials and business leaders explored potentials for collaboration in support of US-China economic and trade relations, US Ambassador David Perdue struck a nuanced tone, expressing cautious hope for a "more balanced and sustainable" economic partnership, calling for fair and reciprocal trade and voicing concern over about projections that China's dominance of global manufacturing will grow even further, according to media reports. 

A Chinese expert said claims that China's manufacturing poses a "threat" misread its nature, stressing that the sector's strength stems from the integrated maturity of multiple industries and expands opportunities for mutually beneficial supply chains. The US should pursue fair, reciprocal trade with China based on facts and market realities instead of "China threat" rhetoric, and seek shared gains through mutual respect rather than one-sided accusations, the expert said.

According to AP, at the event, US Ambassador David Perdue told business and government leaders in Beijing that China should be congratulated on becoming a manufacturing powerhouse, but echoed fears in Europe and elsewhere that China's exports pose a threat to factories and jobs in other countries. He claimed this is not healthy for the rest of the world.

He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Friday that discussions on trade balance, market access and industrial competitiveness have long featured in China-US economic exchanges, and said such issues require objective assessment and adjustment based on facts and market demand by both sides.

China's manufacturing achievements are an objective reality, and its exports across multiple sectors are increasingly meeting overseas regions' demand for supply chain stability and industrial transformation, He Weiwen noted.

The nation's export sector has shown stronger momentum in innovation, a deeper commitment to green development and a clearer emphasis on win-win cooperation, Wang Jun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), said at a recent press conference, according to People's Daily.

For example, China's exports of industrial gas purification equipment increased by 17.3 percent, while exports of electric forklifts rose by 5.2 percent. High-quality green supply provides the world with China's solution for green transformation, Wang noted.

During the event, Perdue also claimed that China had benefited from free trade with the rest of the world, while American companies had faced the so-called "barriers" in accessing the Chinese market over the years, AP reported.

"America's not looking for a trade war, but we are looking to get fair, free, reciprocal trade," the US convoy said, a view He Weiwen said contrasts with recent US trade practices, including its restrictive measures targeting China's tech development like the chip sector.

He Weiwen noted that China has been expanding opening-up through concrete actions and warmly welcomes all foreign enterprises that operate legally and compliantly in China.

At Thursday's event, Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that China would remain committed to deepening reform, expanding opening-up and advancing innovation, unleashing development momentum through high-quality growth and offering broad opportunities for companies from all countries, including the US, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

As a latest example, Apple reported a blockbuster quarter for iPhone sales as holiday purchases and a rebound in China helped it beat its already ambitious expectations with a record $144 billion in revenue, Financial Times (FT) reported on Thursday local time.

This smartphone giant said sales in the crucial Chinese market jumped 38 percent year-on-year, while it reported $42 billion in net income for the quarter, well ahead of expectations, according to FT.

Starbucks, a US-based coffee chain, told the Global Times on Thursday that its China business has maintained strong momentum, with fiscal 2026 first-quarter revenue reaching $823.4 million, up 11 percent year-on-year - the fifth consecutive quarterly increase. 

The company said that its store expansion is steadily extending into emerging county-level markets, underscoring its confidence in and long-term commitment to the Chinese market.

"Differences between China and the US should be addressed through dialogue rather than accusations or confrontation, and that discussions grounded in multilateral rules would help place bilateral economic and trade ties on a more stable, long-term footing," the expert said, adding that China has been always taking into account its trade partners' legitimate concerns, and that rule-based, cooperation-oriented engagement could deliver tangible benefits for businesses and the public in both countries.

On Wednesday, the 2026 China Business Climate Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China just showed that 57 percent of surveyed companies plan to increase their investment in China, with 18 percent expecting investment growth of more than 20 percent.

Also, regarding equal treatment, 70 percent of responding companies believed their level of acceptance in China had not declined from the previous years, and over 60 percent indicated that foreign and domestic enterprises in their sectors received equal treatment. 

The strong performance of US companies operating in China underscores the mutual benefits of cooperation, Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that China stands ready to welcome businesses from all countries, including the US, to tap into the opportunities created by its high-quality development.

The success of American companies in China demonstrates that China and the US benefit from cooperation and a steady, sound and sustainable relationship is in the interest of both sides, according to Guo.

"This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). China's economy is gathering momentum and growth drivers are on the upgrade. China will remain a source of stability, growth and innovation for the world economy. We welcome US and other foreign companies to seize the opportunities of China's high-quality development and greatly benefit from China's multi-trillion-yuan market," Guo said.