China in the Global Economy

China remains the world’s foremost exporter and a major global investor, with an economic footprint that continues to shape global markets and political relations. Its state-led economic model and the close alignment of economic and political objectives distinguish China from Western economies, firmly positioning it at the centre of contemporary geoeconomic dynamics. Renewed geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies, and heightened strategic rivalry—particularly following the return of the Trump administration in the United States in 2025—have added new volatility and uncertainty to international economic relations. Frictions over market access, competition practices, and strategic industries have intensified. As these dynamics evolve, the need for rigorous, policy-relevant academic research on China’s global economic role has become more pressing than ever.

Building on the success of its previous editions, the 3rd Kiel-Göttingen-CEPR China Conference will once again bring together leading international scholars to analyse China’s role in the global economy. Hosted in central Berlin, the conference aims to deepen dialogue between cutting-edge academic research and policy practice. By providing a forum for exchange between researchers, business practitioners, and policymakers, the conference seeks to advance informed debate on China’s economic impact and its implications for international economic relations.

We are honored to welcome two distinguished keynote speakers:

• Chang-Tai Hsieh (University of Chicago, CEPR and NBER) on "Where is China Heading?"

• Fabrizio Zilibotti (Yale University, CEPR and NBER) on "China’s Unbound Prometheus: Growth and Structural Transformation".

Conference highlights include the Kiel–MERICS Policy Panel on “China Shock 2.0: How Can Europe Shape Its Strategic Response to Geoeconomic Disruption?”, with Katharina Erhardt (Professor, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; Research Director & Head of Industrial Policy Lab, Kiel Institute and CEPR), Jens Eskelund (President, European Chamber of Commerce in China), Mikko Huotari (Director, Mercator Institute for China Studies) and Joanna Szychowska (Director, Directorate B - Asia (I), Services and Investment, Digital Trade, Intellectual Property and Public Procurement, DG Trade, European Commission) as panelists.

The program also features a special live edition of Global China Conversations on “China Shock 2.0: How Can the German Automotive Industry Respond?”, with Manuel Kallweit (Head of Economic Intelligence, German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA), Karoline Rogge (Professor of Sustainability Innovation and Policy, University of Sussex Business School and Fraunhofer ISI), and Sander Tordoir (Chief Economist, Centre for European Reform and CEPR) as speakers.

The conference will feature around 30 presentations of recent research on China in the global economy. Confirmed speakers include Philipp Boeing (Goethe University Frankfurt and ZEW), Julian Hinz (University of Bielefeld, Kiel Institute and CEPR), Jiandong Ju (Tsinghua University and CEPR), Soo Yeon Kim (University of British Columbia), Bingjing Li (University of Hong Kong), Faqin Lin (China Agricultural University), Layna Mosley (Princeton University), Andrea Presbitero (International Monetary Fund and CEPR), and Johannes Van Biesebroeck (KU Leuven and CEPR).

Preliminary Program