Navigating China's Foreign Investment Landscape
E-Learning | Masterclass
In this masterclass, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of China’s foreign investment management system and how the investment process is structured. By the end, you’ll be able to assess whether your organization’s intended investment in China is feasible and identify the requirements and conditions that may apply.
The masterclass quickly equips you with the practical steps foreign investors must take to determine if a proposed investment is permitted. You’ll learn how to conduct an initial feasibility check and understand the regulatory considerations that influence market entry and expansion.
The masterclass begins by placing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into context, exploring its role as a major driver of China’s economic growth and the long-term impact of China’s unique FDI policies on both domestic and international companies. From there, the course examines the core elements of investing in China, including investment management, promotion, protection, and compliance with the new Foreign Investment Law.
Who should join?
This masterclass is designed for executives, legal and compliance professionals, consultants, and business leaders involved in planning, managing, or advising on foreign investment in China. It’s ideal for anyone who needs practical insight into China’s regulatory and policy landscape for market entry or expansion.
100% Online delivery
The masterclass is designed to be completed fully online enabling students to continue working during the course.
Literature
The masterclass covers all literature essential to acquiring the fundamental knowledge for performing investment into China.
Duration
The masterclass duration of the course is 2 weeks based on an average time commitment of 4-5 hours per week.
Objectives
- Learn the steps to take as a foreign investor to determine whether your desired investments for expanding your organization into China are possible, and which requirements might apply.
- Learn about the differences between investing within the territory of mainland China and within the territory of the Pilot Free Trade Zones.
- Learn how to read and apply China’s Foreign Investment Encouraged Lists, Negative Lists, Market Access Negative List and the Catalogue for Industry Restructuring for your business.
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the key aspects of Investment Management, Investment Promotion, Investment Protection, and requirements to achieve compliance towards China’s Foreign Investment Law.
- Understand how foreign investment has contributed to the economic development in China, and what long-term implications China’s FDI policy has for both Chinese and international business.
Unit 1: Introduction
The first unit provides an orientation to the course and the online learning environment. The unit does not carry credits. You are encouraged to go through the materials at their own pace to get accustomed to the online medium.
Unit 2: Placing FDI into China in Perspective
Foreign Direct Investment has been one of the most important aspects of the overall economic reform program launched in China forty years ago. The gradual but active liberalization of the FDI regime and improvements in the investment environment greatly increased the confidence of foreign investors to do business in China. Consequently, FDI inflows into China increased rapidly after 1978 and particularly during the 1990s. In 2002 with China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, China became the largest FDI recipient in the world.
In order to place market entry into China by Dutch companies in perspective, a profound understanding of China’s position on FDI, the historic development, significance, and relevance to the contribution of the development of China’s economy is a prerequisite. This module elaborates on the role of FDI in the Chinese reform strategy and highlights the characteristics that are specific to the Chinese context followed by an overview of FDI developments since the commencement of China’s economic reforms.
Unit 3: Investment Management
Direct investment refers to an investment made originating from a country or non-state jurisdiction outside the territory of China into China, without structuring the investment into an intermediary third country or non-state jurisdiction.
In this unit China’s law and regulations in regard to Investment Management, Investment Promotion, Investment Protection, Transition towards Foreign Investment Law compliance as well as existing Feedback and Dialogue mechanisms between Foreign Investors and Chinese authorities are discussed are in detail.
In recent years China has evaluated its existing foreign investment policies and developed and implemented a structured rule-based investment management system. The new Foreign Investment Law which came into effect per 1 January 2020, which combined with its detailed implementation regulations forms the basic law for foreign investment into China.
To manage the inflow and structuring of foreign investments, China operates multiple foreign Investment Negative Lists and Encouraged Lists, which are applicable to foreign investors with an interest to establish an enterprise located in either China or designated national level Pilot Free Trade Zones. In addition, a Market Access Negative List and a Catalogue for Guiding Industry Restructuring is operated, applicable to both foreign and domestic investors.
Unit 4: Investment Promotion
Investment Promotion as a series of activities that governments adopt to attract foreign direct investment. China’s new Foreign Investment Law and its Direct Implementation Regulations include multiple provisions on Investment Promotion, of which the implications are discussed in detail in this unit.
Unit 5: Investment Protection
Concern about IP enforcement remains a major factor influencing company strategies and operations in China. China’s IP laws and regulations increasingly reflect international standards, and China has indeed made steady efforts to better protect and enforce IP rights. However, challenges remain, including lingering issues with China’s IP legal framework in areas such as trade secrets, uneven enforcement, and significant procedural barriers that frustrate company efforts to protect IP in China.
In this unit Investment Protection under China’s Foreign Investment Law is discussed, followed by the steps China is undertaking to further strengthen the protection of trade secrets in terms of law development and application in court. To further place the importance of investment protection into perspective, the development of Foreign Invested Enterprises considerations and concerns on Investment Protection in China will be discussed.
No specific prior education or knowledge about foreign investment into China is required to be admitted to this course.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out through a series of written assignments to be completed at the end of each unit.
Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion is issued upon the successful completion of the course.
Further Study
The masterclass Navigating China’s Foreign Investment Landscape is part of the certificate course Establishing Permanent Business Presence in China. Successful completion of the masterclass grants automatic eligibility for admission into the certificate course and confers a full pass for the corresponding module.
Tuition fee
Tuition fee for the masterclass is EUR 149 to be paid in advance.
The tuition fee includes all necessary literature and study materials, guidance and support during your studies, free extension of the study duration (if required), and 1:1 contact with your course professor.
Start date
Open enrollment applies to this masterclass. You can start this course at a timing of your own convenience.
How we deliver value
Program Completion Benefits
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Institute of China Studies.
Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Institute of China Studies.
Contact us
Would you like more information about the course and the admission requirements? Then request a free study consultation. Of course, free of charge and without obligation. This way you will learn more about the content of the course, the teaching materials, and the online learning environment.
Enroll today
Enroll today and develop essential skills and insights to develop a better understanding of China’s foreign investment landscape, which can be directly applied in your professional work environment.