China sees growth in new foreign-invested firms and high-tech FDI

China established 37,711 new foreign-invested enterprises in the first seven months of 2026, up 4.4% from a year earlier, while overall foreign direct investment declined, official data showed.

Actual FDI reached 438.33 billion yuan, or about $64.63 billion, down 6.2% year on year. Manufacturing attracted 109.43 billion yuan, while the service sector received 319.95 billion yuan.

High-tech industries moved in the opposite direction. Investment in the sector rose 32.7% to 182.31 billion yuan and accounted for 41.6% of the national total. FDI in research and development and design services increased 72.1%, investment in services commercializing scientific and technological achievements rose 62.2%, and electronic and telecommunications equipment manufacturing grew 39.9%.

Investment from Saudi Arabia, France and South Korea increased 343.7%, 36.1% and 15.8%, respectively, with investment through free ports included in the calculations.

China unveiled a 15-measure action plan in June to stabilize and optimize foreign investment. The plan focuses on market access, simpler investment procedures, investment promotion, services and safeguards for foreign investors, and foreign-capital management. A revised catalogue of industries encouraged for foreign investment took effect on Feb. 1 and directs capital toward advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech industries, energy conservation, environmental protection and China’s central, western and northeastern regions.