China has unveiled a revised catalogue of encouraged industries to steer foreign investment towards advanced manufacturing and high-tech sectors. Effective from February 2026, it adds 205 new entries to reach 1,679 industries total. The policy aims to strengthen China's appeal to overseas investors amid external challenges.
China is reshaping the direction of its foreign investment by unveiling a revised catalogue of encouraged industries that steers overseas capital towards the advanced and technologically complex sectors Beijing's policymakers view as future growth drivers. The revised catalogue, effective in February 2026, covers 1,679 industries—205 more than the current version released in 2022.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce said the changes are aimed at “strengthening China’s appeal to foreign investors, improving support services for foreign-funded firms and creating a more transparent, stable and predictable business environment”.
Yuan Qian, a lead researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, was quoted by state broadcaster CCTV as saying the catalogue is a core policy tool for promoting foreign investment and optimising the country’s industrial mix. He added that it helps China “better counter an adverse external environment by offsetting external uncertainty with the certainty of its own development, while providing global investors with clear, stable and transparent investment expectations”.
The catalogue includes hundreds of new entries, many in advanced manufacturing, such as deep-sea robots, high-end medical equipment, ice-and-snow equipment, pet healthcare and nucleic acid drugs. Keywords also highlight cruise tourism, Hainan, homestays and Beijing, indicating focus on specific regions and emerging industries. This revision reflects Beijing's efforts to stabilize foreign inflows amid global economic uncertainties.
