Major foreign-invested projects in China gaining speed in implementation

China

Major foreign-invested projects in China gaining speed in implementation

2025-07-27 14:17 Last Updated At：07-28 00:57

Major foreign-invested projects in China have gained speed in implementation as policy measures introduced early this year gradually take effect.

In Huizhou City of South China's Guangdong Province, ExxonMobil's mega ethylene project officially started operation this month.

As the first major petrochemical project constructed solely by a U.S. company in China, the project, with a total investment of 10 billion U.S. dollars, will help the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area become a global petrochemical industry power house, said Li Xingjun, chairman of Exxon-Mobil (Huizhou) Chemical Co Ltd.

"We can see a solid foundation for manufacturing industry here, a complete industrial chain and a high degree of market openness. In the future, we will jointly promote the upgrading of the industrial chain in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and boost the development of the mid-to-high-end value chain of China's petrochemical industry," Li said.

In Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province, Japanese motor manufacturer Nidec has just inaugurated its new industrial park this month.

The new park, the biggest one Nidec has in China, spans an area equivalent to 15 football fields and is capable of delivering 18 million motors and over 20 million electronic inverters per year.

In north China's Tianjin Municipality, Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk signed a memorandum of cooperation early this month to initiate an 800-million-yuan (about 111.9 million U.S. dollars) project to expand the quality-control laboratory at its Tianjin production facility.

Located in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, the Novo Nordisk Tianjin production site is one of the company's strategic global manufacturing hubs, employing approximately 1,800 people.

The facility commenced construction on a sterile production expansion project valued at approximately four billion yuan in March 2024.

Analysts said the quality and structure of the foreign investment in China has been improved as a series of policy measures to stabilize foreign investment take effect.

The number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises in China rose by 11.7 percent year-on-year to 30,014 in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

In the same period, investment in the manufacturing sector reached 109.06 billion yuan, while high-tech industries attracted 127.87 billion yuan.

Malaysia's durian restaurants thrive amid booming demand

Malaysia's durian-themed restaurants are booming as record numbers of durian lovers are flocking to the country, eager to sample what many consider the world's best varieties of the pungent fruit.

Often described as a fruit people either love or hate, durian has long been a favorite among many Chinese visitors as well.

New outlets have sprung up across Kuala Lumpur and Penang, branding themselves as restaurants but serving little beyond durian in different forms, from fresh fruit to ice cream, cream puffs, milkshakes and even deep-fried versions.

"We opened this place nearly a year ago, and our customers come from all over the world," said Ophelia Ng, branch director of Laifa in Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.

Visitors said the draw was the wide range of durian varieties on offer.

"My friend is from Singapore, and this friend is from Indonesia. So we are here to try out different varieties of durian. I think there is different flavors, [some are] a little bit bitter, some are sweeter or creamier, yes, so that's why we are trying it out first before we order the big one," said Wen Ni, a Malaysian durian lover.

Some tourists, however, found the taste less appealing.

"I'm not sure if I like it. I don't really like it. It's not really good," said a tourist from Austria.

For Chinese tourists, sampling Malaysia’s finest durian remains an essential experience.

"When you come to Malaysia, you can't afford to miss the best durian. The finest varieties are Musang King and Black Thorn. It's best to enjoy them in a restaurant, where you can eat comfortably in a cool, air-conditioned setting. The durian is delicious, and relaxing here while savoring the fruit is the best experience," said Zhao Bin, a tourist from Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province.

With durians banned from hotels and public transport, restaurants offering air-conditioned comfort have become the preferred way for tourists to enjoy Malaysia's most divisive fruit.