Who's Investing in China?

Who's investing in China? Maybe a better question is who isn't? This article is a must read in understanding the depth and breadth of corpoate investment in China from all countries.

More than 400 out of the world's leading 500 corporations have started businesses in China and set up nearly 400 research and development (R&D) centers throughout the country, a senior Chinese legislator said on Thursday.

Cheng Siwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the announcement at a forum for the leaders of industry and commerce, one of three forums within the World Economic Development Declaration Conference (WEDDC), a two-day event that offered a platform for business people and officials to exchange views on the world and the Chinese economy.

More and more multinational corporations, whose businesses range from computer, telecom products and pharmaceuticals to petrochemicals and power generation production, have extended their production network into China, Cheng said. The capital- and technology-intensive projects funded by these overseas investors have also increased exportation among China's high-tech products. Cheng said that investment from multinational corporations has increased in recent years. A number of corporations have set up their Asian-Pacific regional headquarters in China or founded regional research and development centers and regional operation centers in China, gaining unexpected economic returns.

In 2002, China used US$52 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI), making it the largest FDI absorber among all the developing countries for nine years in succession, Cheng said, adding that relevant government departments have undertaken studies for the overseas-funded enterprises to set up financial companies and obtain import and export rights.

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