In the past 12 months, businesses, governments, and industries have been impacted by escalating geopolitical and economic tensions that are having significant global repercussions. Amidst these challenges, China has focused on mitigating the effects of rising trade tensions by negotiating through tariff policies. China has also experienced a wealth of new opportunity, as demonstrated by the proliferation of its AI and renewable energy industries, its increased investments in the Global South, and its economic projection of reaching 4.5 percent real GDP growth in 2025, according to World Bank estimates. This panel focuses on navigating China’s economic transformation, underscoring the performance of its cities in response to these challenges.