Foreign investment utilized by national economic and technological development zones (ETDZs) accounted for nearly a quarter of the country's total in 2025, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce in Xiamen City, east China's Fujian Province, on Wednesday.
The report was released at the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade underway in Xiamen.
In 2025, the total amount of actual foreign investment utilized by national ETDZs reached 25.6 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 24.5 percent of the nation's total, it said.
As key platforms for China's opening-up, national ETDZs are undergoing a transformation: rather than simply competing on preferential policies, they are now focusing on new quality productive forces, building high-quality industrial ecosystems tailored to local conditions and prioritizing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals and robotics.
At an investment promotion and matching event during the fair, representatives from national ETDZs across the country engaged in face-to-face exchanges with corporate representatives regarding industrial development needs.
"Companies used to focus on land and government policy subsidies. Now, more businesses pay attention to local supporting industrial chains, the open application scenarios in our market and the development of our overall financial ecosystem including funds and financial institutions," said Yang Jie, member of the Party Working Committee and director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone in Jiangsu Province.
China's ETDZs attract quarter of nation's total foreign investment in 2025: report
Canada-headquartered athletic apparel brand Lululemon is embracing the vast Chinese market through a deepened presence at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which opened in Shanghai on Thursday.
This year's expo has drawn 4,144 overseas exhibitors from 152 countries and regions. As the guest country of honor, Canada brought a delegation of about 120 companies.
This year also marks Lululemon's third consecutive participation at the CIIE. Andre Maestrini, president and chief commercial officer of Lululemon, brought a global debut product to the booth -- a runner's vest that seamlessly integrates insulation with ventilation.
"You see the fabrics here, the perforation, the double layering and different inclusions of technical materials to be able for air to flow, but still protecting and keep you warm in extreme conditions," said Maestrini.
He also noted that while the product is designed domestically, its inspirations and effectiveness are honed and validated in China, a market featuring rapid evolution and highly diversified consumer demands.
"Outdoor, outwear, China is seeing a lot of progress, so it's very interesting to see what China guests require. If you know what China guests want, and [combined with] people that living in Vancouver or Whistler near Canada, because we have a lot of mountains and outdoors -- the combination makes it a global product," he said.
Beyond product development, global companies are increasingly regarding China not only as a destination for bilateral trade, but as a springboard for broader global investment.
"China speed, in terms of innovation [and] in trends, is so intense that if we are present in China, and we have teams here developing the products that's needed for the China market, we see the potential to export them," said Maestrini.
Launched in 2018, the CIIE is the world's first national-level expo dedicated to import, and has become an important gateway for foreign businesses seeking access to China's vast consumer and industrial markets. This year's exhibition is held from Nov. 5 to 10.
Canadian athletic apparel brand deepens China presence with proactive CIIE showcase
Canadian athletic apparel brand deepens China presence with proactive CIIE showcase
