China to boost foreign investment through key platforms

China will double down on strengthening the role of national economic and technological development zones, optimizing national service industry pilot demonstrations, and promoting various platforms for opening up, as part of the effort to attract foreign investment, said an official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Sunday.

China has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a more open and investment-friendly economy with the release of a new action plan on stabilizing and promoting foreign investment in 2025. The country once again made a pledge to attract foreign investment during this year's annual sessions of the national legislature and the top political advisory body earlier this month. According to the MOC, there are currently 232 national economic and technological development zones in China. Despite accounting for less than 0.3 percent of the country's total land area, these zones contribute 10 percent of China's GDP and over one-fifth of paid-in total foreign investment.

In 2024, the 11 provinces and cities participating in the integrated demonstration endeavors for opening up the service sector attracted a total of 41.3 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment, accounting for approximately 50.2 percent of total foreign investment in China's service sector.

The 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment, released in February, also emphasizes enhancing the effectiveness of platforms for opening up, improving the level of export-oriented economic development in national economic and technological development zones, and implementing upgrading strategies for free trade zones.

"With the implementation of the 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment, we believe foreign enterprises will have greater opportunities for development in China," said Wang Ya, deputy director general of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration under the MOC, told an event on the outcomes of the "two sessions" in Beijing.

Recent surveys also support this optimistic outlook. A survey report released by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China showed that 58 percent of its member companies will increase or maintain their investment scale in China this year. The American Chamber of Commerce in China also released a report indicating that 53 percent of the surveyed American companies plan to increase their investment in China in 2025.

China to boost foreign investment through key platforms

China to boost foreign investment through key platforms

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that Seoul firmly adheres to the one-China principle, in comments made ahead of his upcoming state visit to China.

The remarks were made in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). The visit is scheduled for Jan 4–7.

"The consensus reached between governments of the Republic of Korea and China when diplomatic relations were established continues to be the fundamental principle governing our relations, and its effectiveness remains steadfast. I want to clearly state that the ROK has always adhered to the one-China principle. Maintaining peace and stability in regional matters, including in Northeast Asia and concerning the Taiwan issue, holds significant importance to us," said Lee.

"The foundational relationship between the ROK and China was established on a very principled and fundamental basis from the beginning. It is clear that the ROK government has always adhered to this position and has never wavered from it. I believe that the sound development of ROK-China relations depends on both sides fully respecting each other's core interests and being mutually tolerant of each other's positions. In this context, we will, as always, uphold the one-China principle as the Taiwan issue is China's most fundamental concern," he said.

ROK president reiterates firm adherence to one-China principle