Weakening consumption, weakening growth: Can China boost domestic demand?

Topic

The Chinese economy expanded again only moderately in 2024. Subdued private consumption and weak private investment had a particularly dampening effect. The decisive support for China's economic expansion came from abroad. However, the increasing trade tensions with the United States threaten to weaken the relevance of exports for the Chinese economy. In times of high global economic policy uncertainties, China's economic growth depends crucially on whether domestic demand can develop into a sustainable pillar of the economy. How will the Chinese government stimulate domestic demand? Will China succeed in turning it into a sustainable domestic economic pillar?  What challenges will arise? Can German and European companies benefit from the policies to promote domestic demand? 

Program

The event consists of different impulse lectures followed by a discussion.  

The Global China Conversation #40 will be held in German. 

Katja Drinhausen 

Katja Drinhausen heads the Domestic Policy and Society programme area at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). Her research focusses on the strategic objectives of the Chinese Communist Party, the development of China's legal system and politics under Xi Jinping, and the relationship between state and society. One focus of her work in recent years has been the understanding of national security, including economic security, and the implications for China's domestic and foreign policy. Katja Drinhausen studied sinology at the Universities of Leipzig and Erlangen-Nuremberg as well as international and Chinese law in Beijing. Prior to MERICS, she worked as a research assistant and project manager at the Beijing office of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. 

Corinne Abele 

Corinne Abele has been Head of Foreign Trade at Germany Trade & Invest in Shanghai since 2014. She previously represented Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) in Beijing and before that the German Federal Agency for Foreign Trade (bfai) in Taipei. A trained journalist, economist and historian of Eastern Europe (Magister), she has been analysing economic activity and industry developments in the Chinese-speaking world for over two decades. In addition to numerous publications and short studies, Ms Abele regularly gives lectures. Her specialised topics include industrial and technology policy, climate and environmental protection as well as competitive conditions in China. 

Manuel Liu 

Manuel Liu has been writing for China.Table since October 2024. He learnt the craft of journalism during his traineeship at the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, at the ifp School of Journalism and at the German Academy of Journalism. Internships at ZDF, Deutschlandradio and RND round off his CV. Born in Hamburg, he grew up in a German-Chinese household, including eight years in Shanghai. He studied Philosophy and Chinese Studies (B.A.) in Siegen, Cologne and Beijing and completed an M.A. in International Political Economy of East Asia in Bochum. The proud father and Cologne resident by choice is interested in relations between Germany and China's governments, companies and people.