China will expand two-way investment cooperation by deepening the reform of the institutional framework for promoting foreign investment and ensuring national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, according to its newly released government work report on March 5.
Efforts will be made to expand market access and open up more areas, particularly in the service sector, the report said.
Fabian Blake, Vice President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and Chairman of the South China Board, lauded the country's economic development, affirming that achieving around 5% GDP growth for an economy the size of China is a "great performance."
"China remains a very attractive market. The market is big, and the potential is there." Blake expressed optimism about the opportunities for expanded cooperation between China and Europe.
Strong trade ties
China's import and export sector has shown strong momentum in 2025, particularly in trade with the European Union.
In 2025, China's total trade with the European Union reached 5.93 trillion yuan, marking a 6 percent increase and accounting for 13 percent of China's overall foreign trade.
European companies are also expanding their footprint in China. According to the chamber's South China chapter, three areas in particular have shown strong development: advanced manufacturing, innovation and green development.
Among recent investments, Siemens Healthineers has been expanding its operations in Shenzhen, while BASF is preparing to officially open its major integrated production complex in Zhanjiang this March.
"These are just a couple of examples," he said. "We are very confident that China continues to be a good manufacturing and trading partner for European businesses."
Growing cooperation opportunities
Commenting on China's efforts to further open up its service sector, Blake said there is considerable room for cooperation between China and Europe, particularly in areas such as social services and finance.
He noted that there are clear differences between the social welfare systems in Europe and China, but these differences also create opportunities for collaboration.
Blake pointed out that Europe has developed relatively advanced social welfare services, especially in elderly care. With China facing a rapidly aging population, this could become a key area for future partnerships.
He also highlighted the financial sector as another promising area for deeper engagement. According to Blake, European financial institutions could play a more active role in supporting green finance and sustainable investment in China.
"All of this needs to be supported by an enabling regulatory framework," he said. "That will help make these kinds of collaborations possible."
GBA appeals to global companies
Blake also highlighted the strong economic ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which he said offers significant opportunities for international companies.
Cities such as Shenzhen are driving innovation, while Guangzhou serves as a major economic powerhouse with advanced manufacturing capabilities.
At the same time, manufacturing hubs including Foshan, Dongguan, and Zhuhai provide strong industrial capacity.
According to Blake, this combination of innovation, economic strength and manufacturing capability is very attractive for European companies and investors.
Looking ahead, he believes that the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting 2026 in Shenzhen this November will offer an important opportunity to deepen economic collaboration.
"It creates an opportunity to attract more global attention and focus on how we can strengthen economic cooperation, not only within the Asia-Pacific region but also with other parts of the world."
"We would very much like to take this opportunity to move forward on several important advocacy topics," he said.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Poster | Lai Meiya
Video capture | Chen Jinxia
Video editor | Qin Shaolong
