The 2026 Global Times Annual Conference focused on strengthening China’s role as a “predictable power” in a turbulent world. Global Times polls played a pivotal role in shaping China’s perspective on the Global South, the Middle East, and Israel. The Global Times Annual Conference serves as a prominent strategic platform, bringing together hundreds of experts, officials, and influential figures from the political, economic, and academic spheres to discuss global and regional issues from a Chinese perspective. The Global Times Annual Conference is typically held in December each year in Beijing, China.
The primary function of the Global Times Annual Conference is as a platform for strategic discussion. The conference aims to analyze major international shifts and offer future insights into China’s role in the global order. In addition to its efforts to bolster international confidence in China’s policies worldwide, the 2026 Global Times Summit (held in December 2025) focused on the theme “Trust in China: A New Journey, New Opportunities,” seeking to explain why Chinese policies are “predictable” and serve as a stabilizing force for the world.
The annual Global Times Summit typically focuses on international, economic, and cultural issues from a Chinese perspective. These discussions include an analysis of China’s relations with the world and its stances on global issues, such as its position on US policy in China’s regional sphere, Taiwan, the Middle East, Africa, and globally; China’s economic development; Chinese and international public opinion perceptions of Chinese policies, highlighting Chinese initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and domestic development models; and providing daily coverage of culture and technology in China.
The most prominent topics of discussion and reports during the 2026 Global Times Annual Meeting revolved around China’s foreign and international policy, including coverage of China’s relations with other countries, such as President Xi Jinping’s calls to strengthen the partnership with Canada, China’s stance on the Taiwan issue, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and Israel’s support for Taiwan’s new multi-layered air defense system called “T-Dome” or “Taiwan Dome” and its connection to Israel’s Iron Dome system. The meeting also included an analysis of global stereotypes about China. Organizers of the Global Times Annual Meeting focused on analyzing China’s structural economic challenges, such as the real estate sector, overcapacity, and the impact of China’s stimulus measures on domestic and international growth. The meeting also gave paramount importance to the domestic cultural dimension, focusing on Chinese mummification technology and social issues, such as the emphasis on personal health in China and popular cultural phenomena. Analyzing the relationship between culture and society in China and highlighting diverse cultural aspects, such as traditional Chinese arts like “Kunqu.”
The annual meetings of the Chinese magazine Global Times are keen to shape the global perception of China. All of the magazine’s annual reports highlight key global impressions of China and the United States, comparing them and identifying the factors influencing these impressions globally, such as Chinese initiatives versus American policies. The annual meetings of the Chinese magazine Global Times also focus on analyzing and monitoring a number of domestic issues in China, such as coverage of disciplinary measures, anti-corruption campaigns, and developments in specific sectors, such as technology, tourism, and entertainment.
The Global Times’ measurements (based on Chinese public opinion polls regarding the Middle East and Israel) were neutral. The annual polls conducted by the Global Times revealed clear shifts in Chinese public opinion regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Chinese public showed a marked increase in sympathy for the Palestinian cause, with unprecedented displays of solidarity across Chinese social media. A majority of Chinese now view US policy in dealing with the conflict as “irresponsible.” The Global Times polls also revealed overwhelming public support (over 90%) for China to play a greater mediating role in regional conflicts. Regarding future expectations, 51% of Chinese participants expressed relative optimism that the situation in the Middle East could see a breakthrough by the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027, believing that Chinese mediation efforts, such as Palestinian reconciliation, lay a solid foundation for a solution.
Regarding the Global Times’ opinion polls on relations with Israel, it became clear to those conducting the survey that, despite the continuation of diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, Chinese public opinion has become more critical of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. There is also a growing public demand for a firmer Chinese stance against what is described as Israel’s expansionist policies in the Palestinian territories.
The most prominent results of the Global Times’ global poll on China’s role in the world were more optimistic. The poll showed that more than 70% of participants from Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have a positive impression of Chinese governance practices. Furthermore, more than 60% of respondents from Saudi Arabia and Egypt affirmed that Chinese mediation efforts are effectively contributing to attempts to resolve the Palestinian issue.
The 2026 annual meetings of the Chinese magazine Global Times also focused on building bridges with the Global South by emphasizing the adoption of multipolarity. Participants affirmed that China’s global initiatives align with the global trend towards multipolarity, giving countries of the Global South a stronger voice in confronting what were described as “colonial systems” of global governance. There was also positive optimism regarding China’s role through its global development initiatives. Chinese initiatives, such as global development, global security, and global civilization, were viewed as crucial tools for building comprehensive cooperation bridges with Africa, Asia, and Latin America, independent of US and Western interference in internal affairs. Furthermore, Global Times surveys on the importance of mutual trust in enhancing China’s international image indicated that “trust in China” is becoming a growing international consensus, especially given the expectations of countries of the Global South that China will play a larger role in reforming the global financial system to reflect the priorities of developing countries in the face of US unilateralism and global hegemony.
The annual meetings of the Chinese magazine Global Times also focused on analyzing China’s key economic policies globally. The Global Times annual meeting dedicated several sessions to discussing five-year plans, such as the 15th Five-Year Plan and how China’s developmental returns are distributed globally, with an emphasis on concepts like “new qualitative productive forces.”
The Global Times meetings also focused on gauging Chinese public opinion on a number of issues. During the conference, the results of the annual opinion polls conducted by the Global Times Research Center on “The Chinese People’s View of the World” were released, providing insight into popular and national trends in the country. Furthermore, the Global Times meetings emphasized building bridges with the “Global South.” The annual meeting highlighted strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange between China and the countries of the Global South, and China’s role as a bridge between them and the Global North.
The most prominent themes of the recent meeting (2026 edition) of the Chinese magazine Global Times focused on the importance of China’s “predictability” for the world, the expected global returns and gains from China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, China’s civilizational approach and its global applicability, and interactions between major powers and their neighbors, with a vision for the state of China and the world in 2026.
Based on our previous understanding of the nature of the Global Times’ annual meetings, we understand that these discussions in the magazine reflect a Chinese government perspective and seek to enhance China’s image and highlight its soft power and growing global influence, focusing on China’s role in sustainable development, innovation, and cultural heritage preservation, while maintaining a firm tone in defending Chinese interests regionally and globally.
