Is foreign capital really withdrawing from China? - Thailand PR News - [Banking](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/banking/) - [Companies](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/companies/) - [Economy](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/economy/) - [Press Releases](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/press-release/) - [PR Newswire](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/pr-newswire-updates/) - [Tech](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/tech/) - [Tourism](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/tourism/) - [Press Release](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/press-release/) # Is foreign capital really withdrawing from China? ##### Up next ![Aetina and Axelera AI Partner to Advance Computer Vision at the Edge](https://i0.wp.com/r2.thailandbusinessnews.net/2025/03/Aetina_Corporation_Logo_Logo.jpg?resize=200%2C110&ssl=1 "Aetina and Axelera AI Partner to Advance Computer Vision at the Edge") [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/aetina-and-axelera-ai-partner-to-advance-computer-vision-at-the-edge/) ###### [Aetina and Axelera AI Partner to Advance Computer Vision at the Edge](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/aetina-and-axelera-ai-partner-to-advance-computer-vision-at-the-edge/) Published on 04 March 2025 ##### Author ##### [ CISION PRNewswire ](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/author/cision/) ##### Tags - [PRNewswire](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/tag/prnewswire/) BEIJING, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily: Lately, there has been much talk about foreign investors withdrawing from China on a large scale. Official data show that in 2024, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use dropped by 27.1 percent year on year, while the number of new foreign-invested firms increased by 9.9 percent from a year ago. Are these two figures in conflict with each other? To answer this question, let’s first delve into a story about Walmart’s development in the Chinese market. Over the past few years, retail giant Walmart has been actively closing locations across China. Many people just feel like that "Walmart is withdrawing from China." But is this the whole picture? Certainly not. On Dec. 18, 2024, Walmart-owned Sam’s Club opened its 52nd store in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province. More strikingly, in the third quarter of 2024, Walmart’s net sales in China climbed 17 percent year on year. So how could a company that is allegedly "pulling out of China" maintain steady sales growth in the Chinese market? Walmart’s story highlights important shifts in the Chinese market: as personalized and diversified consumption has emerged as a new trend among Chinese consumers, and with the rapid development of Chinese domestic retailers, traditional business models are struggling to survive in the country. Only those foreign companies that adapt quickly to the evolving Chinese market can succeed. Simply put, the times have changed. The Chinese market is no longer what it used to be, and China’s relationship with foreign investment has also changed. Does China still need foreign investment? Before discussing whether foreign investment is leaving the Chinese market, it is essential to clear up one question: Does China still need foreign investment? China has entered a new stage of high-quality development and has moved from capital scarcity to capital abundance. The country is shifting its focus from attracting foreign investment to a new strategy with equal emphasis on both "bringing in" and "going global." However, some argue that "China no longer needs foreign investment as before" or even hyped up their narrative that "China is no longer welcoming foreign investors." Apparently, capital abundance and "going global" do not mean that China no longer needs foreign investment. In fact, foreign capital remains crucial in China’s "dual circulation" paradigm – the new development pattern that China adopted in 2020, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and foreign markets to reinforce each other. Over the past few years, China has introduced a range of measures for voluntary and unilateral opening up on a larger scale and at a higher level. For instance, it has hosted the China International Import Expo and the China International Supply Chain Expo, reduced negative lists for foreign investment, and granted national treatment to foreign-funded enterprises. With lower entry barriers, more small- and medium-sized foreign-invested enterprises are entering the Chinese market, which can explain the rapid increase in the number of new foreign-funded enterprises in the country. Why has the scale of foreign direct investment declined? Industrial investment is a long-term, rational economic decision influenced by multiple factors in the medium and long term. Therefore, fluctuations in investment align with economic patterns. In the medium term, China has attracted over one trillion yuan ($136.85 billion) each year in foreign investment for three consecutive years since 2021. The large foreign capital inflow has unleashed investment demand in the country, and the drop in foreign direct investment in 2024 falls within normal economic cycles. From a long-term perspective, global cross-border investment is shifting toward service-oriented and asset-light industries, thereby leading to a periodic discrepancy between the scale of foreign investment in actual use and the number of new foreign-invested enterprises. Currently, around 70 percent of foreign investment in China flows into the services sector, which is characterized by asset-light business models, thereby significantly impacting the overall scale of foreign investment. The next " China " is still China. How do foreign-invested enterprises view the Chinese market? "The next ‘China’ is still China." This is a sentiment widely shared by global investors. Today’s China is experiencing technological breakthroughs and a talent boom, which have led to a substantial increase in total factor productivity and more added value for the "world factory." The huge Chinese market has become a "global market," stimulating domestic demand and providing immense opportunities for foreign companies. Undoubtedly, a constantly developing China with strong growth momentum remains highly attractive to foreign investors. At the same time, in China’s highly competitive open market, foreign-funded enterprises must bring their best expertise to secure a foothold. In recent years, some foreign enterprises that failed to keep up with the changing Chinese market have withdrawn, while more high-tech foreign investors have come in. As always, China remains firmly committed to opening up and win-win cooperation with foreign investors. No matter what, this remains true: partnering with China means embracing future opportunities, and investing in China is investing in the future. [Source link ](https://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/4632527_AE32527_0?rand=89749) ``` This content was prepared by our news partner, Cision PR Newswire. The opinions and the content published on this page are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Siam News Network ``` ##### You May Also Like [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/horizons-rebrands-as-remote-people-expanding-beyond-eor-to-full-service-global-hiring/) ![Horizons Rebrands as Remote People, Expanding Beyond EOR to Full-Service Global Hiring](https://i0.wp.com/mma.prnasia.com/media2/2889283/WhatsApp_Image_2026_02_06_at_15_11_13.jpg?resize=260%2C140&ssl=1 "Horizons Rebrands as Remote People, Expanding Beyond EOR to Full-Service Global Hiring") - [Press Release](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/press-release/) ## Horizons Rebrands as Remote People, Expanding Beyond EOR to Full-Service Global Hiring Full-lifecycle global hiring platform now recruits, employs, and incorporates across 150+ countries.… - [CISION PRNewswire](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/author/cision/ "View all posts by CISION PRNewswire") - February 9, 2026 [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/nexteer-breaks-ground-on-new-manufacturing-facility-in-liuzhou-china-2/) ![Nexteer Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Liuzhou, China](https://i0.wp.com/r2.thailandbusinessnews.net/2025/04/nexteer_Logo.jpg?resize=260%2C117&ssl=1 "Nexteer Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Liuzhou, China") - [Press Release](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/press-release/) ## Nexteer Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Liuzhou, China Capacity Expansion, Supply Chain Co-location & Smart Manufacturing Fuel APAC Growth Strategy… - [CISION PRNewswire](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/author/cision/ "View all posts by CISION PRNewswire") - July 15, 2025 [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/smartee-hosts-academic-programs-in-thailand-highlighting-mandibular-repositioning-technology/) ![Smartee Hosts Academic Programs in Thailand Highlighting Mandibular Repositioning Technology](https://i0.wp.com/mmx.prnasia.com/media/MS1959641/20260727235634EDT_image_1.jpg?resize=260%2C140&ssl=1 "Smartee Hosts Academic Programs in Thailand Highlighting Mandibular Repositioning Technology") - [Press Release](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/press-release/) - [Tech](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/category/tech/) ## Smartee Hosts Academic Programs in Thailand Highlighting Mandibular Repositioning Technology BANGKOK, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Smartee Denti-Technology recently participated in two… - [CISION PRNewswire](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/author/cision/ "View all posts by CISION PRNewswire") - July 28, 2026 ##### Most Read - [![Chubb Wealth Debuts Evergreen Private Markets Fund Series with S64](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/chubb-wealth-debuts-evergreen-private-markets-fund-series-with-s64/ "Chubb Wealth Debuts Evergreen Private Markets Fund Series with S64") [Chubb Wealth Debuts Evergreen Private Markets Fund Series with S64](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/chubb-wealth-debuts-evergreen-private-markets-fund-series-with-s64/ "Chubb Wealth Debuts Evergreen Private Markets Fund Series with S64") - [![Adecco Group announces Salesforce's Agentforce Coworker rollout across 40 countries](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/adecco-group-announces-salesforces-agentforce-coworker-rollout-across-40-countries/ "Adecco Group announces Salesforce's Agentforce Coworker rollout across 40 countries") [Adecco Group announces Salesforce's Agentforce Coworker rollout across 40 countries](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/adecco-group-announces-salesforces-agentforce-coworker-rollout-across-40-countries/ "Adecco Group announces Salesforce's Agentforce Coworker rollout across 40 countries") - [![INVT to Showcase Power and Liquid-Cooling Solutions for Data Center Modernization at Data Centre World Asia 2026](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/invt-to-showcase-power-and-liquid-cooling-solutions-for-data-center-modernization-at-data-centre-world-asia-2026/ "INVT to Showcase Power and Liquid-Cooling Solutions for Data Center Modernization at Data Centre World Asia 2026") [INVT to Showcase Power and Liquid-Cooling Solutions for Data Center Modernization at Data Centre World Asia 2026](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/invt-to-showcase-power-and-liquid-cooling-solutions-for-data-center-modernization-at-data-centre-world-asia-2026/ "INVT to Showcase Power and Liquid-Cooling Solutions for Data Center Modernization at Data Centre World Asia 2026") - [![JBD Launches the "Roadrunner" Platform: MicroLED Microdisplays with 2.5-μm Pixel Pitch](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/jbd-launches-the-roadrunner-platform-microled-microdisplays-with-2-5-%ce%bcm-pixel-pitch/ "JBD Launches the "Roadrunner" Platform: MicroLED Microdisplays with 2.5-μm Pixel Pitch") [JBD Launches the "Roadrunner" Platform: MicroLED Microdisplays with 2.5-μm Pixel Pitch](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/jbd-launches-the-roadrunner-platform-microled-microdisplays-with-2-5-%ce%bcm-pixel-pitch/ "JBD Launches the "Roadrunner" Platform: MicroLED Microdisplays with 2.5-μm Pixel Pitch") - [![Triton Uranium Advances Atlas Project, Reports Exploration Target of 46.56 Million Pounds of Uranium](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/triton-uranium-advances-atlas-project-reports-exploration-target-of-46-56-million-pounds-of-uranium/ "Triton Uranium Advances Atlas Project, Reports Exploration Target of 46.56 Million Pounds of Uranium") [Triton Uranium Advances Atlas Project, Reports Exploration Target of 46.56 Million Pounds of Uranium](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/triton-uranium-advances-atlas-project-reports-exploration-target-of-46-56-million-pounds-of-uranium/ "Triton Uranium Advances Atlas Project, Reports Exploration Target of 46.56 Million Pounds of Uranium") - [![Agoda Reveals Sustained Intra-Regional Travel Interest Across Southeast Asia](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/96e712b5408b51145de772098c3ff3417ce8a11555b7c388d84204c5769f5631?s=40&d=blank&r=g)](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/agoda-reveals-sustained-intra-regional-travel-interest-across-southeast-asia/ "Agoda Reveals Sustained Intra-Regional Travel Interest Across Southeast Asia") [Agoda Reveals Sustained Intra-Regional Travel Interest Across Southeast Asia](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/agoda-reveals-sustained-intra-regional-travel-interest-across-southeast-asia/ "Agoda Reveals Sustained Intra-Regional Travel Interest Across Southeast Asia") ##### Subscribe via Email Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address Subscribe [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/a-robust-adjusted-ebit-margin-of-18-8-driven-by-solid-organic-revenue-growth-of-7-4/) ![A robust adjusted EBIT margin of 18.8%, driven by solid organic revenue growth of 7.4%](https://i0.wp.com/mmx.prnasia.com/media/MS1988977/VBD_01.jpg?resize=260%2C140&ssl=1 "A robust adjusted EBIT margin of 18.8%, driven by solid organic revenue growth of 7.4%") ## A robust adjusted EBIT margin of 18.8%, driven by solid organic revenue growth of 7.4% PARIS, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Virbac Headquarters, Carros, France H1… [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/tdh-holdings-announces-its-annual-general-meeting-of-shareholders-will-be-held-on-november-10-2026/) ## TDH Holdings Announces its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be Held on November 10, 2026 BEIJING, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TDH Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETZ)… [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/advancion-releases-2025-sustainability-report-safe-by-choice-sustainable-by-design/) ## ADVANCION RELEASES 2025 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT: "SAFE BY CHOICE. SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN." Advancion’s fifth annual report highlights the Company’s progress in… [](https://thailandbusinessnews.net/press-release/aml-rightsource-recognized-with-cobrasight-award-for-digital-asset-compliance-expertise/) ![AML RightSource Recognized with CobraSight Award for Digital Asset Compliance Expertise](https://i0.wp.com/mmx.prnasia.com/media/MS1556422/AML-RightSource-Logo.jpg?resize=260%2C140&ssl=1 "AML RightSource Recognized with CobraSight Award for Digital Asset Compliance Expertise") ## AML RightSource Recognized with CobraSight Award for Digital Asset Compliance Expertise Industry recognition highlights AML RightSource’s expertise in helping…