The Walt Disney Co. will continue to invest in China, CEO Bob Iger said during a meeting with the country’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing Friday.
The meeting was reported by China’s state news agency Xinhua, which wrote that “Iger said Disney is confident in China’s development, and will continue to expand its investment in China and better promote exchanges and cooperation between the United States and China.”
Disney, of course, has more business in China than perhaps any other American entertainment conglomerate. In addition to historically having more films succeed in the country (Zootopia 2 has passed Avengers: Endgame to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film in the country post-COVID), the company has two resorts in China: Shanghai Disney Resort, which opened in 2016, and Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in 2005.
Disney’s Shanghai park has a Zootopia-themed land, owing to the first film’s success in the country.
Of course, relations between the U.S. and China are strained, with President Trump using tariffs to reshape the global economic order, and engaging in aggressive foreign policy (as we saw in Venezuela).
“We will steadfastly promote high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, and continuously optimize the business environment,” said Ding, according to Xinhua, “noting that China welcomes enterprises from all countries, including Disney, to continue investing in China and deepening their presence, and share China’s opportunities to achieve greater development.”
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