China’s Minister of Finance, He Lifeng, met with Joseph Bae, co-chief executive officer of global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), in Beijing on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, signaling China’s continued push to attract foreign capital and emphasizing the stability of its economic growth path amidst global financial uncertainty. The high-level meeting involved discussions on China’s current economic performance, future development blueprints, and opportunities for deepened international investment, with both parties expressing confidence in the country’s long-term market prospects.
He Lifeng, who serves as a member of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, asserted that the nation’s economy has sustained a “steady and sound performance” throughout the current year. He underscored Beijing’s certainty in achieving its mandated annual growth targets, positioning China as an essential anchor for global economic stability.
Reaffirming Commitment to Global Investors
A key element of the discussion centered on China’s future economic strategy. Minister He highlighted the recent fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, held last month, which ratified a comprehensive five-year development plan. He stated that this blueprint is specifically designed to facilitate robust national growth, which, in turn, is expected to make a substantial contribution to worldwide economic expansion.
In a direct appeal to multinational investors, Minister He reiterated Beijing’s transparent and welcoming policy toward overseas capital. He extended an invitation for international firms to increase their operations within China, encouraging them to capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by the country’s continued development initiatives.
KKR Expresses Confidence in Chinese Market
Representing one of the world’s leading private equity powerhouses, KKR co-CEO Joseph Bae reciprocated the positive sentiment regarding China’s economic future. Bae conveyed KKR’s “firm confidence” in the nation’s market outlook, indicating the firm’s strategic intent to expand its footprint. He signaled KKR’s readiness to deepen both investment commitments and operational cooperation within the Chinese market, spanning various sectors. This commitment from a major global financial institution provides market validation of China’s proclaimed economic resilience.
Implications for Foreign Direct Investment
The dialogue between high-ranking Chinese leadership and influential global investors like KKR is crucial as China navigates complex international trade relations and domestic economic transitions. Such exchanges are fundamental in maintaining investor trust and attracting the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) necessary to fuel sophisticated, high-tech sectors targeted by the central government. The mutual affirmation of strong economic potential suggests that, despite geopolitical pressures, major Western financial firms remain strategically engaged with mainland China, viewing it as a critical component of their global portfolio growth strategy. Moving forward, the effectiveness of the recently released five-year plan in providing regulatory clarity and sustained policy support will be keenly observed by firms like KKR as they execute their investment mandates.