Targeting Four New Business Opportunities: Foreign Capital Continues to Deepen Its Presence in the Chinese Market

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Source: Economic Information Daily

A series of opening benefits released during the National Two Sessions are accelerating into tangible market dividends. The “Four New Business Opportunities”—massive market scale, service industry development, innovation ecosystem, and open highlands—not only outline a new picture of China’s high-quality economic development but also serve as the core driving forces attracting foreign investment to deepen their roots in China.

Many foreign companies have stated that, amid ongoing uncertainties in the international economic and trade environment, China’s stable policy expectations and continuously expanding opening-up benefits have strengthened their confidence in investing and deepening their presence in China.

This year’s Government Work Report proposed “promoting reinvestment of foreign capital within China and expanding localized production,” sending a clear signal that China welcomes multinational companies to invest long-term. Shen Danyang, head of the drafting team of the Government Work Report and director of the State Council Research Office, summarized the new opportunities faced by foreign investors in China with the “Four New Business Opportunities”—namely, new opportunities from the massive market, service industry development, innovation ecosystem, and open highlands.

To truly turn these four major opportunities into tangible gains, more pragmatic measures are already underway. The Ministry of Commerce stated that this year, they will focus on enhancing the “Invest in China” brand with three key initiatives: making activities more “refined” by targeting future industries and new tracks of foreign investment to improve matching accuracy; providing better “service” by turning corporate “demand lists” into “service lists”; and upgrading platforms by enhancing the capabilities of free trade pilot zones, development zones, and other open platforms.

Policy warmth is transforming into market spring, with multinational companies rooted in China feeling the first benefits. “This year’s Two Sessions emphasized boosting consumption and revitalizing sinking markets, which gives us more confidence in long-term development in China,” said Zhang Jiaqin, CEO of McDonald’s China. Over the past five years, thanks to a continuously optimized business environment, McDonald’s China has nearly doubled its restaurant count, planning to open over 1,000 new outlets by 2026, and continues to invest in digitalization and innovation.

If the vitality of the consumer market demonstrates current dividends, then the opening of the service industry opens new growth space for foreign investment. By 2025, China’s per capita service consumption expenditure is expected to reach 46.1%, continuing to rise. The Government Work Report proposed expanding market access and opening fields with a focus on the service industry, further opening pilot projects in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, wholly foreign-owned hospitals, and other areas, as well as orderly expansion of digital openness and reduction of negative lists for cross-border service trade.

German BODE Group is full of expectations. Since entering the Chinese market, this global leader in fluid control has seen rapid business growth. Harald Schmidt, Group Global President, said that further opening of China’s service industry will create new space for industrial services and digital solutions, supporting the company’s upgrade from a “manufacturing base” to a “regional headquarters + R&D center + service center.”

Meanwhile, the innovation ecosystem continues to optimize, attracting more R&D resources from foreign investors into China. “China has become one of the core engines of global AI innovation,” said Song Weiqun, Executive Vice President of GE Healthcare, President and CEO of GE Healthcare Greater China. Over the past decade, GE Healthcare has successfully launched more than 170 domestically innovative products in China. In the future, they will strengthen smart device and AI-driven medical ecosystem innovation based on clinical needs.

Schneider Electric’s Executive Vice President and President of China and East Asia, Yin Zheng, also stated that China not only has a massive market but also boasts a complete industrial system and vibrant innovation momentum. Going forward, Schneider Electric will continue to increase investment in China, deepen local integration of R&D, manufacturing, and sales, and use leading digital and energy technologies to help various industries achieve quality improvement and efficiency in energy transition and AI integration.

Additionally, open highlands are providing foreign investment with higher-level platforms. At the Maersk integrated logistics flagship warehouse in the Lingang New Area of Shanghai Free Trade Zone, a busy scene unfolds as goods from around the world are sorted and imported/exported. This flagship warehouse is Maersk’s largest single investment project in China and one of its biggest global warehousing investments.

“China is the world’s largest exporter and an important consumer market,” said Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk. Relying on Shanghai Lingang New Area’s strategic position as an international logistics hub, increasing investment in logistics infrastructure can further connect China with global markets, supporting global clients in facing trade challenges and seizing growth opportunities.

From McDonald’s accelerating store openings to BODE’s upgrading, from GE Healthcare and Schneider Electric’s R&D innovations to Maersk’s logistics layout, the four new business opportunities are turning policy texts into practical “gold,” vividly illustrating how foreign investment is deepening in China and sharing future prosperity.

In fact, China remains one of the most attractive destinations for global capital. A recent survey of multinational companies shows that over 90% of respondents will continue investing in China, and nearly 70% of senior executives are confident about their development in China over the next 3-5 years.

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Editor: Gao Jia