According to a report by China Daily on March 19th…
China is steering more foreign investment toward high-end manufacturing and modern services, aiming to boost investor confidence and strengthen its market-opening agenda.
The National Development and Reform Commission recently unveiled 13 major foreign-funded projects with a combined planned investment of $13.4 billion. Experts said the move signals China’s commitment to improving the quality and structure of foreign investment amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.
The new projects are concentrated in manufacturing sectors including electronics, chemicals, automobiles, and electrical machinery. For the first time, logistics projects were also included, highlighting a policy push for deeper integration between manufacturing and services. Research and development centers, particularly in biomedicine, continue to receive support.
“These projects will reinforce industrial clustering, support the shift toward smarter, higher-end manufacturing, and provide fresh momentum for the real economy,” said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.
Cumulative investment in major foreign-funded projects now totals $108 billion, demonstrating significant spillover effects in attracting foreign capital. A new edition of the Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, effective February 2026, further directs funds toward advanced manufacturing, modern services, high technology, and environmentally sustainable sectors.
Policy adjustments also aim to expand foreign market access, particularly in China’s central, western, and northeastern regions. Chen Lei, director general of the NDRC’s Department of Development Planning, said the government plans to prioritize the services sector and further trim the negative list for foreign investment.
“Stable policies will help translate China’s vast market potential into real business opportunities,” added Lou Feipeng, researcher at Postal Savings Bank of China.
Overall, the latest projects underscore China’s strategy of combining high-standard opening-up with industrial upgrading to attract and retain global capital.