On September 12, 2025, the State Council held an executive meeting focused on improving the overseas comprehensive service system to provide stronger support for Chinese enterprises operating internationally. The initiative reflects Beijing’s growing emphasis on balancing high-level opening-up with the need to protect the interests of domestic firms abroad and ensure stability in global supply chains.
Background: Rising Global Presence, Growing Risks
China has consolidated its position as a leading source of global investment. In 2024, the country’s outward direct investment (ODI) accounted for 11.9% of the global total, up 0.5 percentage points from the previous year, ranking among the world’s top three for 13 consecutive years.
This steady expansion has coincided with a more complex global environment for cross-border investment. Rising geopolitical tensions, stricter foreign investment reviews, and increasing compliance demands in overseas markets all pose new challenges. As noted by Luo Yuze, deputy director of the Foreign Economic Research Department of the State Council’s Development Research Center, improving overseas service capacity is not only about facilitating international expansion but also about safeguarding enterprises’ rights, coordinating development and security, and maintaining resilient industrial and supply chains.
Strengthening Service Infrastructure
The meeting emphasized the need to consolidate service resources across legal, financial, and logistics domains, ensuring enterprises have access to the support needed to operate effectively abroad. Key measures include:
- Building service platforms and expanding the range of service products available to overseas firms.
- Supporting qualified regions to establish comprehensive overseas service ports and promoting the creation of service stations in key countries.
- Enhancing the role of business associations in supporting enterprises overseas.
- Cultivating professional service institutions with advanced cross-border capabilities to address the rising complexity of global operations.
These initiatives are intended to create a more systematic and coordinated service framework, ensuring that Chinese enterprises abroad can access assistance quickly and effectively.
Local Exploration and National Scaling
Local governments such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Zhejiang have already piloted comprehensive service models for outbound enterprises, while a number of domestic professional service institutions have begun to expand their cross-border offerings. However, demand from enterprises continues to outpace supply.
The State Council’s directive signals a shift toward scaling these initiatives at the national level. By combining policy guidance with market mechanisms, the government seeks to create platforms where professional institutions can expand, enterprises can easily access help, and associations can develop sustainable service models.
Implications for Chinese Enterprises Abroad
For Chinese companies engaged in global competition, the development of a stronger overseas service ecosystem could lower operational risks, improve access to professional support, and enhance their ability to comply with local regulations in host markets.
At the same time, the plan aligns with broader national objectives: integrating development with security, protecting enterprise interests, and reinforcing China’s role in maintaining stable global supply and value chains.
Conclusion
The State Council’s move to improve overseas comprehensive services underscores the government’s recognition that “going global” requires more than investment capital. A robust support system, covering law, finance, logistics, and beyond, is essential for enterprises to succeed abroad, especially amid an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
By cultivating professional service institutions and building systematic platforms, China aims to ensure its overseas enterprises not only expand but also operate with greater resilience and competitiveness in international markets.