Chinese President Xi to visit Shanghai this week sources say

SHANGHAI – Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Chinas international financial hub of Shanghai this week, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The visit would be his first trip to the eastern Chinese city since November 2023, during which he urged the city to build upon its strengths as a financial centre and take a lead in technology.

He also during that trip hosted a meeting with provinces comprising Chinas Yangtze River Economic Belt, an area that comprises Shanghai and 10 other provinces and cities along the Yangtze River, a key export hub which accounts for about more than 40 per cent of Chinas gross domestic product.

The State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the Chinese government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Xis visit to Shanghai in 2025 comes as Washington and Beijing remain locked in a trade war that is threatening to sap global growth.

Even though China’s economy depends on exports to sustain manufacturing, officials have signalled they believe the world’s second-largest economy can handle the hit and signalled they stand ready to help as needed with more policy support.

Mr Zhao Chenxin, vice-chair of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in a news conference on April 28 that Beijing remained “fully confident” China would hit its economic growth target of around 5 per cent for 2025.

US President Donald Trump asserted in an interview published on April 25 that tariff negotiations were under way with China, but Beijing denied any talks were taking place, the latest in a series of conflicting signals over whether progress was being made to de-escalate the trade battle. REUTERS