Beijing conference advances inbound, outbound investment

Participants attend the Chinese and Foreign Investment Promotion Agencies Conference in Beijing, Jan. 19, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The Chinese and Foreign Investment Promotion Agencies Conference was held in Beijing on Jan. 19, featuring two parallel sessions aimed at advancing foreign investment attraction and supporting Chinese enterprises in expanding overseas.

The conference brought together representatives from embassies, investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce and multinational companies from more than 30 countries and regions, including Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and South Africa. Also attending were participants from commerce authorities, investment promotion agencies, industrial parks and enterprises from over 20 provincial- and municipal-level regions across China.

At the foreign investment promotion session, Yang Yihang, deputy director-general of the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce (CIPA), said the agency will continue to enhance the quality and effectiveness of foreign investment promotion by strengthening coordination with local governments, industrial parks and business associations.

Yang emphasized efforts to better leverage major exhibition platforms such as the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, and to make fuller use of overseas representative offices, bilateral and multilateral investment promotion mechanisms, and outbound delegations. He also highlighted the importance of building practical and efficient platforms and organizing distinctive, high-quality promotional activities.

The meeting also provided briefings on the latest foreign investment trends and relevant policies. Representatives from the Investment Promotion Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Chuzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone in Anhui province, and the Taicang Municipal People's Government in Jiangsu province shared their experiences in formulating investment attraction strategies based on different regional conditions and development orientations. They highlighted the role of sustained services and sound ecosystem building in promoting coordinated development and mutual growth between foreign-funded enterprises and local economies.

During the exchange session, industry figures from the German Chamber of Commerce in China, the US-China Business Council, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Haleon (China) shared views on industry development trends and investment opportunities.

At the outbound investment parallel session, Yu Zirong, deputy director-general of the CIPA, said that in response to evolving global economic conditions, the agency will work to strengthen cross-border investment service platforms to provide enterprises with precise, efficient and end-to-end support for overseas expansion.

He said the CIPA will continue to innovate and improve full-chain cross-border investment service mechanisms, encourage enterprises along industrial and supply chains to expand overseas in a coordinated manner, and support the orderly and well-structured international deployment of China's industries and supply chains.

In the discussion session, representatives from Invest Hong Kong, the China–Shanghai Cooperation Organization Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, China Merchants Bank, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, and the Peng Sheng Industrial Park in Uzbekistan exchanged views on overseas investment practices and potential areas for cooperation.