Hong Kong media: Global companies' interest in China's "stable harbor" surges

Ask AI · How does the increasing global uncertainty highlight the unique value of China as a stable haven?

Hong Kong South China Morning Post article, April 1, original title: Surge in Global Business Interest in China’s “Stable Haven”
Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, Chinese leaders sent a clear signal at the recent 2026 Annual Conference of the China Development Forum: China is committed to becoming a “stability port” for the world. The forum attracted CEOs of global companies such as Siemens and Apple, conveying an message to the world: when the United States faces difficulties, China offers reliable governance and stability.

As early as before the US and Israel war in Iran, my email told me that some things were changing. People I hadn’t contacted in nearly ten years suddenly reached out, all discussing the same topic: China. In just the first quarter of 2026, our company received four times as many inquiries about entering or re-entering the Chinese market compared to the same period last year. Executives from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East asked one after another: Is now the right time to cooperate with China? Some are cautious, others eager, but all are closely watching China’s movements.

Evidence of renewed global interest in China continues to grow. Despite the pressures on overall foreign direct investment due to global capital reallocation, the basic signals are very clear: opportunities remain strong. Last year, over 70k new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, a 19% increase year-on-year. In high-tech sectors, the results are even more impressive. Foreign investment in China’s e-commerce services surged by 75% last year, and investment in medical equipment and apparatus manufacturing grew by 42.1%. The tourism industry also confirms this trend. Last year, inbound tourism exceeded 150 million visits, a year-on-year increase of over 17%; inbound tourism spending surpassed $130 billion, up nearly 40%. Thanks to China’s increasingly relaxed entry policies, over 30 million foreign tourists entered visa-free. This number is expected to further rise this year. Finally, driven by technological progress, clean energy, and industrial automation, China’s stock market soared to its highest level in nearly a decade last year. No matter how the outside world spins the so-called “recession theory,” the market seems to be voting with real money and trust.

To understand the drivers behind the global renewed focus on China, one must look at the broader international situation. The United States has entered a period of highly uncertain policies: large-scale tariffs, trade interventions, and a regulatory environment changing faster than companies can plan, all contributing to uncertainty. Traditional allies such as Europe, Canada, Japan, and South Korea have also found themselves targets of US trade weaponization.

In this context, “stability” has become an increasingly scarce and precious resource. Despite many challenges, China can offer what the West can no longer provide: policy continuity and stability. China’s 14th Five-Year Plan has entered implementation, providing a clear roadmap for national development. Recently enacted “Catalogue of Industries Encouraging Foreign Investment (2025 Edition)” has added 205 new items compared to the 2022 version. Meanwhile, a growing consensus is forming: China is expected to become an important destination market for foreign goods, and many businesspeople are eager to seize opportunities and follow trends. For most of the past decade, Western views of China mainly focused on various so-called “risks.” But the situation has quietly changed. Today’s global business leaders are weighing these risks against a potentially greater risk: missing out on the Chinese market. In 2025, China’s merchandise trade surplus surpassed $1 trillion, reaching a record high of $1.19 trillion at year’s end. For companies considering entering China, this figure reflects China’s purchasing power for foreign goods.

From most indicators, that country once “decoupled” from the West is now more deeply integrated with developing economies than before. Trade settled in RMB continues to expand in countries like Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Indonesia; as traditional infrastructure leaders withdraw, China is providing 21st-century infrastructure solutions for emerging markets. (Author Chris Perrella is the founder and CEO of Misin, a communications and business consulting firm based in New York, USA. Translated by Liu Xincheng)