China's foreign investment landscape revealed a story of resilience and transformation during the first three quarters of 2025, as new data highlights both challenges and opportunities in the world's second-largest economy. While actual utilized foreign capital fell 10.4% year-on-year to 573.75 billion yuan ($78.7 billion), a surge of 16.2% in newly established foreign-funded enterprises signals enduring confidence from global investors.
Tech Sector Emerges as Growth Engine
High-tech industries shone brightly, attracting 170.84 billion yuan in investment. E-commerce services led the charge with 155.2% growth, followed by aircraft/equipment manufacturing (38.7%) and medical equipment production (17%). The manufacturing sector overall drew 150.09 billion yuan, while services accounted for 410.93 billion yuan.
Global Partners Expand Presence
Key investors doubled down on Chinese opportunities:
Japan: +55.5% investment growth
United Arab Emirates: +48.7%
United Kingdom: +21.1%
Switzerland: +19.7%
September brought encouraging signs with an 11.2% year-on-year rebound in capital utilization, suggesting potential stabilization in foreign investor sentiment.
