China to Expedite Pilot Programs to Further Open Up Services Sector

China will accelerate pilot programs to further open up its services sector in key areas such as cloud computing, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, as part of broader efforts to create a more favorable environment for foreign investment. Deputy China international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce, Li Yongjie, stated that the ministry will work with relevant government branches to gradually expand opening-up in more service areas and revise China's Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment. The updated catalog will include more opportunities in strategic emerging sectors.

Key Takeaways:

• China will expedite pilot programs to further open up its services sector in key areas such as cloud computing, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals.
• The ministry will work with relevant government branches to gradually expand opening-up in more service areas and revise China's Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment.
• The updated catalog will include more opportunities in strategic emerging sectors.
• China is studying new policy measures to encourage reinvestment by foreign companies and will ensure that foreign-invested firms can participate on an equal footing in government procurement and nationwide programs.
• The government aims to create a more favorable environment for foreign investment.
• The sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit will be convened from June 18 to 20 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, with 557 guests attending, including executives of multinational corporations, heads of international organizations, and government officials.
• Global firms see China as a key pillar in their long-term growth strategies amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
• China's actual use of foreign direct investment in high-tech industries reached 96.71 billion yuan ($13.47 billion) in the first four months of 2025, with FDI in e-commerce services surging 137 percent year-on-year and investment in aerospace equipment manufacturing rising 86.2 percent on a yearly basis.
• Malaysia's state-owned energy group Petronas will further expand its presence in China, as it views China as a key strategic market in its global growth plans.
• Petronas will accelerate the expansion of its global liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to support China's growing energy needs.
• China is becoming a major innovation hub for Bosch, with many of its latest innovations entering mass production in China this year.

Statistics:

• 96.71 billion yuan ($13.47 billion) - China's actual use of foreign direct investment in high-tech industries in the first four months of 2025.
• 137 percent - FDI in e-commerce services surged year-on-year.
• 86.2 percent - Investment in aerospace equipment manufacturing rose on a yearly basis.
• 557 - Number of guests attending the sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit.
• 4 - Number of new LNG carriers being built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd for Petronas.

Sources:

• Li Yongjie, deputy China international trade representative at the Ministry of Commerce, speaking at a news conference in Beijing.
• Wang Lei, director of Shandong's provincial department of commerce, speaking at the sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit.
• Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
• Petronas, as quoted in the article.
• Xu Daquan, president of China unit at German industrial conglomerate Bosch Group, speaking at the sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit.
• Data from the Ministry of Commerce, as cited in the article.