The 18th China Development Forum: China at the Crossroads: Power, Progress, and Global Change…

About the Event

Founded in 2009, the LSE China Development Forum (CDF) is a flagship annual conference dedicated to advancing rigorous and forward-looking discussions on China’s development and its global implications. Over the past decade, CDF has grown into one of Europe’s leading China-focused forums, bringing together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and students from around the world.

Each year, the Forum welcomes 20+ distinguished speakers and over 400 participants, creating a high-level platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on China’s economic, political, and social transformations in a rapidly changing global landscape.

CDF 2026

Taking place on 7 February 2026 at the London School of Economics, CDF 2026 convenes leading scholars and industry experts to examine some of the most pressing questions shaping China’s future development, including:

• Smart Growth or Smart Divide? The role of AI and emerging technologies in China’s regional development
• Rebranding the Nation: “Made in China” and projections of Soft Power in China's international expansion
• From Scale to Sustainability: China's Industrial Strategy in the Age of Green Transition

Through keynote speeches and in-depth panel discussions, the Forum aims to foster nuanced debate, challenge conventional narratives, and offer diverse perspectives on China’s evolving role in the world.

Networking Reception

The Forum will conclude with an exclusive, invitation-only networking reception, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with speakers and fellow attendees in a more relaxed and intimate setting, and to continue conversations beyond the formal sessions.