Chinese carmakers Dongfeng, Changan announce restructuring plans

Chinese automakers Dongfeng Automobile and Changan Automobile announced on Sunday night restructuring plans of their controlling shareholders, both of which are centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Dongfeng Automobile said in a filing that its indirect controlling shareholder Dongfeng Motor Corp is planning a restructuring with other central SOEs, which could result in a change in its indirect controlling shareholder, without affecting its actual controller.

On the same day, Changan Automobile issued a similar announcement regarding its indirect controlling shareholder China South Industries Group's restructuring plan.

Currently, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council directly supervises three centrally administered automotive enterprises - FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor Corp and Changan Automobile.

In the past two years, the three automotive enterprises have accelerated their transition to new energy, investing nearly 36 billion yuan (about 4.9 billion U.S. dollars) in new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023, with the investment proportion exceeding 60 percent.

Since 2024, the SASAC has frequently signaled its intent to accelerate the development of NEVs, offering support in areas such as assessment, innovation and industry integration.

Dongfeng Motor, based in central China's Hubei Province, reported vehicle sales of 2.48 million units in 2024, reflecting a 2.5 percent year-on-year increase, according to information released by the SASAC.

Meanwhile, Changan Automobile, headquartered in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, achieved total sales of 2.68 million vehicles last year, marking a 5.1 percent growth compared to the previous year. Notably, the company's NEV sales surpassed 734,000 units, representing a 52.8 percent year-on-year surge.

Chinese carmakers Dongfeng, Changan announce restructuring plans

Chinese carmakers Dongfeng, Changan announce restructuring plans

Chinese carmakers Dongfeng, Changan announce restructuring plans

Chinese carmakers Dongfeng, Changan announce restructuring plans

Boosted by advanced medical technologies and improved administrative support, China is emerging as a major global hub for cross-border medical travel, adding a new bright spot to China's service-trade exports.

The trend is clearly evident in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, which has established itself as a key destination for international cancer treatment, drawing an increasing number of overseas patients seeking advanced, minimally-invasive care.

According to the 2025 report from China's National Health Commission, key foreign-oriented hospitals in China received 1.28 million international patients, marking a 73.6-percent increase over a three-year period.

Peng Xiaochi, a specialist physician, has witnessed a sharp rise in foreign patients over the past decade, mostly from Southeast Asia. Among them is Ronald, a patient from Indonesia seeking treatment for conditions that yielded few viable options at home.

"We combined interventional therapy and cryoablation. Phase-one results were positive," said Peng.

The personalized approach has earned high praise from Ronald, who recounted his healthcare journey.

"Yeah, the treatment is very good and very nice. The doctors are very kindful. And yeah, they helped me very good. And last week I get my first treatment, which was a little bit painful, but yeah, okay, that's normal. It's for a few days and now it's becoming a little bit better. So we will go on for the next week," said Ronald.

A sense of relief was shared by Ronald's family.

"The conditions here are great. I feel reassured seeing him get treatment here," said a family member.

Ronald's story mirrors a broader trend. For overseas patients who find few viable treatment options at home, hospitals in Guangzhou offer reliable, minimally-invasive alternatives, according to local physicians.

"Surgery went perfectly. Lesions are fully addressed," said Yang Zhiguo, an attending physician.

Ronald left the hospital about one month after his procedure, which followed new international medical policies introduced in Guangzhou on April 29 to bolster services for overseas patients.

The city announced 12 supportive measures and launched an international medical tourism service center, providing comprehensive, end-to-end assistance that includes visa support, remote pre-consultations, and streamlined cross-border payments.

Wang Wensheng, president of human resources and travel service provider Sunbright Group, said the city's new policies streamline the medical journey.

"From pre-arrival assessment to post-discharge cross-border follow-up, patients are freed from cumbersome paperwork," said Wang.

China sees rising influx of overseas patients for medical treatment