China lifts barriers for foreign investors in manufacturing sector

China has officially removed all restrictions on foreign investors in the manufacturing industry, marking a significant step for the world's second-largest economy.

As of November 1, the updated list of sectors prohibited for foreign investment has come into effect, with the last two manufacturing-related items now eliminated, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

This change reduces the number of "closed" industries to 29, signalling that China's manufacturing sector has achieved a world-leading level of openness.

Experts from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) noted that most developing countries still impose restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing, and even some developed nations maintain certain limitations.

Since surpassing the United States in manufacturing value added in 2010, China has retained its position as the world's largest manufacturer for 14 consecutive years, accounting for approximately 30 per cent of the global manufacturing volume in 2023.

Recent years have seen a steady rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in high-tech manufacturing within China. In the first nine months of this year, the medical equipment and instrument manufacturing sectors, along with the computer and office equipment manufacturing industry, experienced year-on-year increases in foreign investment of 57.3 per cent and 29.2 per cent, respectively.

By Vafa Guliyeva