Published by ChinaMNC · Jiangyin

China Marks 77th National Day: What the Official Reception Signals for Foreign Founders Operating in China

A ChinaMNC briefing for foreign founders on the 77th anniversary reception at the Great Hall of the People, summarizing official statements on economic resilience, the 15th Five-Year Plan, opening-up and foreign participation.

China Marks 77th National Day at the Great Hall of the People

A reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China was held on the evening of September 30 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to the official government account carried by Xinhua News Agency. President Xi Jinping attended and delivered a speech. Premier Li Qiang presided over the reception, and Zhao Leji, Wang Ning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng also attended.

For foreign founders building or registering a company in China, the event is worth reading less as ceremony and more as a statement of official priorities. The speech set out the government's current economic framing, its legislative planning cycle and its posture toward foreign participation. Below is a practical summary of what was said, with no claims beyond the source.

Who Attended and What That Signals

About 800 Chinese and foreign guests gathered for the event, which was held in the banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People. The stage backdrop carried the national emblem and the numerals "1949–2026."

The official guest list is the most concrete takeaway for international business readers. Attendees included, according to the source:

• Foreign diplomatic envoys posted in China
• Representatives of international organizations in China
• A number of foreign experts
• Representatives from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese
• Leaders of central Party and state departments, the military, and Beijing municipal authorities
• Representatives of democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation
• Recipients of national honors and awards, model workers, and representatives of ethnic minority communities

Foreign experts and envoys being seated among the guests is consistent with the government's stated interest in keeping international talent and investment engaged — a point relevant to founders weighing where to base a China entity and whom they will deal with locally.

The Economic Message: Resilience and the 15th Five-Year Plan

In his speech, Xi described the economy as having "withstood pressure, moved toward new and better quality, and demonstrated strong resilience and vitality" during the year, and said the Party and state cause had made new progress. He referred to the drafting and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Several policy phrases in the speech are standard language that foreign founders will encounter repeatedly in official documents and provincial investment guidance. They are worth recognizing:

Key policy formulations cited

• Seeking progress while maintaining stability — the overall tone of economic work.
• New development philosophy — to be applied "completely, accurately and comprehensively."
• New development pattern — to be built at a faster pace.
• Deeper reform and opening-up — described as a continued priority.
• Coordinating development and security — a framing that shapes regulation.

Xi also called for pushing the economy to continue developing "toward new, better and improving" quality, safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods, and completing the year's targets so the 15th Five-Year Plan gets off to a good start. For founders, the practical implication is that the planning cycle — not just annual budgets — is the horizon on which local incentives, industrial catalogues and approval priorities tend to be set.

Trade, Investment and the Foreign Policy Framing

On external relations, Xi said China would maintain an independent foreign policy of peace, promote the implementation of the "four major global initiatives," and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, with the aim of injecting "more certainty and positive energy" into a world he described as turbulent and intertwined.

He also reaffirmed the "one country, two systems" principle for Hong Kong and Macao, support for both regions' integration into and service of national development, and the handling of cross-Strait relations.

For foreign founders, the relevant signal is continuity: the official line emphasizes stability, openness and predictability in the external environment, with no new restrictions on foreign participation announced at this event. Founders should note that the speech did not introduce specific measures on foreign investment, visas or company registration — those come through separate policy channels.

What the Speech Did Not Cover

To avoid over-reading the event: the reception was a commemorative occasion. It did not announce new tax rules, foreign investment catalogue changes, registered capital requirements or sector-specific licensing reforms. Founders should treat the speech as directional context rather than as a compliance or structuring guide.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

Based strictly on the source, three points are worth carrying into planning:

• Policy continuity is the headline. The speech stresses steady, incremental progress — "step by step, solidly moving forward" — rather than abrupt shifts.
• The 15th Five-Year Plan is the working horizon. Expect local governments and industrial parks to align their investment promotion and sector priorities with it.
• International participation remains visible. Foreign envoys, international organizations and foreign experts were among the roughly 800 guests, and the speech included thanks to friendly countries and international friends who have supported China's development.

Founders registering a company should pair this context with the specific rules that apply to their sector and city, and confirm current requirements with qualified local advisers before committing capital or signing leases.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.