In early this year, a statement from a U.S. magazine was quite accurate: “China is rolling out the red carpet almost every day to welcome foreign leaders seeking a more stable development environment.”
Over the past six months, Beijing has witnessed a continuous wave of visits. The lanterns on Chang’an Avenue have been adorned with the flags of visiting countries every few days, and in April, flags of both Spain and Vietnam were displayed simultaneously.
How many “big names” have visited in these six months?
French President Emmanuel Macron came, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer came, U.S. President Donald Trump came, and Russian President Vladimir Putin came. Four of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council were present.
Among the G7 countries, except for Japan, all others—the U.S., France, the UK, Germany, and Canada—visited. Although Italy’s head of state did not come, its Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani arrived in Beijing in April, essentially “making up for the absence.”
In addition to these countries, there were South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, UAE Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn… Next, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will also visit China.
From Western countries to developing nations, from neighboring friends to distant guests, “going to China” has become a common choice.
Why is everyone flocking to China?
First, because China has friends all over the world.
China has become one of the few major countries globally that can simultaneously communicate with different camps, able to talk with almost all major powers worldwide.
Although the U.S. and Russia currently have superficial contact, core contradictions remain unresolved, yet this hasn’t stopped both leaders from coming to Beijing. While European politicians talk about “de-risking,” their leaders vote with their feet, competing to visit China. The situation in the Middle East needs no further explanation—all sides hope China will play a role.
China has become a key hub in global diplomacy. Whether old friends or new partners, everyone finds that to address regional hotspots or discuss global governance, it’s impossible to bypass China. Beijing has truly become the “international meeting room.”
Second, China’s stability is invaluable.
The world has been chaotic in recent years—the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Middle East crisis, and global economic slowdown have caused many countries to waver internally. In contrast, China’s stability has become the most reliable force globally.
Last year, as the U.S. launched a tariff war, many countries watched. In response, China imposed reciprocal measures and not only avoided being dragged down but also achieved a record trade surplus. This unshakeable confidence in the face of storms has made it clear to all nations: China is not just a large market but an indispensable part of the global industrial chain.
People come to China to find certainty and development opportunities.
Third, China’s “futuristic” appeal is highly attractive.
Now, when foreign leaders visit China, they no longer just see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, or eat Peking duck. They flock to tech companies.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez went to Xiaomi’s tech park and sat directly in the cockpit of a domestically produced new energy vehicle.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz experienced robots and autonomous driving
