Institute for China Studies

China Releases Action Plan to Attract and Utilize Foreign Investment

  • Date: 28 March 2024
  • Tags: China, Foreign Investment, Investment Promotion
  • Reading time: 4 minutes

In an effort to bolster its economic modernization and strengthen ties with the global economy, China’s State Council has unveiled the “Action Plan for Solidly Promoting High-Level Opening Up and Making Greater Efforts to Attract and Utilize Foreign Investment.” This plan serves as a roadmap for fostering a more welcoming and accessible environment for foreign investors, ensuring China’s continued competitiveness on the global stage.

Key Pillars of the Action Plan

The action plan (Guo Ban Fa [2024] No. 9) outlines several targeted measures aimed at expanding market access, enhancing policy support, and improving the overall business environment for foreign enterprises. These measures include:

Expansion of Market Access:

  • Reduction of restrictions on foreign investment in critical sectors, such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and medical care.
  • Pilot projects in key free trade zones like Beijing and Shanghai, allowing foreign companies to engage in cutting-edge fields such as genetic technology and app development.

Financial and Tax Incentives:

  • New tax support for foreign-funded projects in sectors like integrated circuits, biomedicine, and high-end equipment.
  • Encouragement of RMB-denominated bond issuance by foreign enterprises for domestic projects, alongside streamlined procedures for participating in China’s bond market.

Support for Industrial Transfers:

  • Special incentives for foreign firms to invest in China’s central, western, and northeastern regions, reducing costs related to land, energy, and labor.
  • Promotion of partnerships between these regions and coastal areas to facilitate industrial transfers and growth.

Enhanced Intellectual Property and Data Security:

  • Strengthened intellectual property protections, ensuring that foreign enterprises’ innovations are safeguarded.
  • Facilitation of cross-border data flow for foreign-invested enterprises, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

Improved Fair Competition and Administrative Practices:

  • Commitment to fair competition in areas such as government procurement and bidding, ensuring foreign firms are not disadvantaged.
  • Streamlined administrative processes to reduce regulatory burdens and improve operational efficiency for foreign-invested enterprises.

Attracting Global Capital Amid Global Shifts

This action plan arrives at a time when global investors are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolios and explore new markets. China’s super-sized consumer market, coupled with its ongoing modernization efforts, presents a compelling opportunity for international businesses seeking long-term growth. By improving its market access and regulatory environment, China aims to consolidate its position as a top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

The removal of restrictions in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and insurance signals China’s readiness to deepen its integration with the global economy. This is particularly important as multinational companies assess new growth regions amidst rising geopolitical and economic challenges globally.

Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation

The plan also aligns with China’s broader objectives of fostering green development and technological innovation. Policies that encourage investments in green energy, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech industries are designed to meet both domestic and global sustainability goals. This is further supported by China’s commitment to enhancing its regulatory standards to better align with international economic and trade rules.

Moreover, China’s active pursuit of membership in high-standard trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) demonstrates its intent to remain a leader in global economic governance.

Conclusion

The new action plan provides foreign investors with clearer pathways for engaging with the country’s rapidly evolving market. By offering more robust financial, legal, and administrative support, China tries to position itself as a premier destination for international investment. For global businesses, this represents not only an opportunity to capitalize on China’s growth potential but also a chance to contribute to the sustainable development of the world’s second-largest economy. 

This strategic initiative reflects China’s commitment to building an inclusive, market-oriented environment that promotes shared prosperity and strengthens global economic ties. For foreign enterprises looking to expand their presence in China, the new action plan provides a clear signal: China is open for business, and it is ready to welcome greater investment and innovation from around the world. 

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