In the first quarter of 2025, the Chinese mainland continued to draw strong foreign investment despite global economic uncertainty. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increased by 4.3% year on year, reaching 12,603.
While overall FDI inflows dropped to 269.23 billion yuan, March saw a notable 13.2% rebound that signals renewed investor confidence. Key sectors are booming—e-commerce surged by 100.5%, biopharmaceuticals by 63.8%, and aerospace equipment by 42.5%! 🚀
Investment sources are also becoming more diverse. Inflows from ASEAN rose 56.2%, EU contributions increased by 11.7%, and investments from Switzerland and the UK surged over 60% through strategic free port channels. A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China revealed that 58% of foreign companies still consider the Chinese mainland among their top three global investment destinations.
Adding to the momentum, global firms such as Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Valeo have boosted their R&D investments, drawn by a stable policy environment and a thriving innovation landscape. Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland is further opening key service sectors—with Siemens and other well-known companies approved for telecommunication trials—and the Ministry of Commerce has introduced 155 new measures to expand access in healthcare, tourism, and cross-border e-commerce. The national negative list has been streamlined to just 29 items, reinforcing market confidence. 🌟
These trends paint a promising picture of a market that not only faces global challenges head-on but also leverages innovation and open policies to attract diverse FDI for long-term growth.
Reference(s):
China sees strong foreign investment growth despite global uncertainty
cgtn.com
