Chinese trade officials are intensifying efforts to reassure global business leaders about the country’s economic prospects, holding meetings with at least four foreign executives early this week.

The outreach comes amid a sharp decline in foreign direct investment and escalating trade tensions with the United States.

Since February, top Chinese commerce officials, including Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, have met with executives from multinational firms such as Airbus, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Honeywell, and Swire. The frequency of these meetings increased after official data showed a 27.1% drop in foreign direct investment in 2024—the steepest decline since the 2008 financial crisis.

The discussions reflect Beijing’s urgency in addressing concerns from international businesses and mitigating disruptions caused by tit-for-tat tariffs with Washington. Six of the 12 companies engaged are US-based, while others represent European, British, Australian, and Brazilian firms.

“A stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US economic and trade relationship is in the fundamental interest of both countries and benefits global companies,” Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen told PepsiCo Chairman Ramon Laguarta.

Executives from several firms, including PepsiCo, Airbus, Swire Group, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Germany’s Hela Group, pledged to expand their investments in China, according to official statements. Others reaffirmed their confidence in the Chinese market.

The diplomatic push follows China’s annual parliamentary session, where the government committed to boosting domestic consumption amid sluggish household demand and a prolonged property crisis.