ZH reported, citing a May 23 report from China Daily.
For decades, China’s economic rise was defined primarily by trade.
Factories exported goods to the world, foreign companies poured investment into manufacturing hubs, and China became the center of global production networks. But Beijing’s latest opening-up strategy suggests the next phase will be broader, deeper and more financially driven.
China no longer wants to be seen only as the world’s manufacturing base. Increasingly, it wants to position itself as a central hub for global capital flows, industrial cooperation and cross-border investment.
That shift was on display this week as officials promoted the upcoming China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which will be held in Xiamen in September.
Chinese officials described the event not simply as a trade exhibition, but as a strategic platform designed to strengthen two-way investment, stabilize global industrial chains and deepen international economic cooperation.
The messaging reveals how China’s understanding of “opening-up” is evolving in response to a rapidly changing global economy.
China Is Expanding the Meaning of Opening-Up
For much of the past four decades, China’s opening-up strategy focused heavily on attracting foreign direct investment and integrating into global trade systems.
That model transformed the country into the world’s second-largest economy.
But today, Chinese policymakers are operating in a far more complicated environment:
- geopolitical tensions are intensifying
- global supply chains are fragmenting
- multinational companies are diversifying operations
- and cross-border capital flows are becoming increasingly politicized
Against that backdrop, China appears to be broadening its approach.
Officials at the CIFIT promotion symposium repeatedly emphasized “two-way investment” — a phrase that reflects a more ambitious vision than simply attracting foreign companies into China.
Beijing now wants to simultaneously:
- continue bringing global capital into China
- support Chinese companies expanding overseas
- strengthen industrial cooperation across borders
- and position China as a long-term anchor of global supply chains
In other words, China is trying to become not just a participant in globalization, but one of its primary organizers.
Global Capital Still Sees Opportunity in China
Despite growing geopolitical uncertainty, many foreign businesses continue viewing China as indispensable.
The upcoming CIFIT is expected to attract participants from more than 100 countries and regions, continuing its role as one of China’s most internationally oriented investment platforms.
Finland, this year’s guest country of honor, offered a particularly revealing example of how many developed economies still approach the Chinese market.
According to Finnish officials, around 250 Finnish companies currently operate in China, generating combined annual revenue of roughly 15 billion euros. Over the years, those companies have invested tens of billions of euros across sectors ranging from advanced manufacturing to clean technology.
What is especially notable is the type of cooperation being emphasized.
Finnish participation this year will focus heavily on:
- circular economy solutions
- energy transition
- clean technologies
- digital innovation
- advanced manufacturing
- health and wellness industries
These are precisely the sectors China is prioritizing as it upgrades its own economy.
The alignment highlights an important trend often overlooked in geopolitical debates: while political tensions dominate headlines, many countries still see enormous commercial opportunities inside China’s industrial transformation.
China Wants to Stabilize Global Supply Chains
Another major theme emerging from the event is China’s determination to preserve its role inside global industrial networks.
Officials repeatedly linked investment cooperation with supply-chain stability, reflecting Beijing’s growing concern over economic fragmentation.
In recent years, businesses worldwide have faced:
- shipping disruptions
- geopolitical trade restrictions
- energy price volatility
- inflationary pressures
- and increasing uncertainty around manufacturing security
China’s response appears to be centered on deeper integration rather than retreat.
By expanding investment cooperation, Beijing hopes to reinforce industrial connectivity with global partners and reduce the risks associated with supply-chain fragmentation.
This strategy is particularly important because China remains deeply embedded in industries critical to the global economy, including:
- electronics
- electric vehicles
- batteries
- renewable energy equipment
- industrial machinery
- and consumer manufacturing
As a result, many international firms are not simply choosing whether to sell into China. They are deciding whether they can remain globally competitive without being closely connected to China’s industrial ecosystem.
The Next Phase of Globalization May Look Different
The broader significance of China’s investment push extends beyond CIFIT itself.
The world economy is entering a period where globalization is no longer driven solely by low-cost manufacturing and tariff reduction. Increasingly, the competition revolves around:
- capital flows
- technological ecosystems
- industrial coordination
- infrastructure
- and supply-chain resilience
China is adapting to that shift.
Rather than abandoning globalization under external pressure, Beijing appears to be reshaping its role within it — moving from export powerhouse toward a more comprehensive platform for investment, technology and industrial collaboration.
That transition will not eliminate geopolitical tensions. Concerns over security, technology transfer and strategic competition will continue shaping global economic relations.
But the persistence of large-scale international participation in events like CIFIT suggests that many global businesses still believe engagement with China remains economically necessary.
The next chapter of China’s opening-up strategy, therefore, may no longer be defined simply by trade volumes.
It may instead be defined by how successfully China positions itself at the center of global capital, industrial cooperation and the future architecture of international economic integration.