China is implementing the “FTC upgrading strategy”; Hunan published its implementation plan on 4 August 2026 with targets to 2030.中国正实施「自贸试验区提升战略」；湖南于 2026 年 8 月 4 日发布实施方案，目标至 2030 年。 The plans widen market access inside FTZs: foreign-owned vocational training, qualified foreign … China’s FTZ Upgrading Strategy: What the 2026 Provincial Plans Open (2026)Read more
FDI
Lingang & free trade zones playbook
China’s FTZs pilot openness before nationwide roll-out; the Lin-gang Special Area (announced 6 Aug 2019, Guofa [2019] No. 15) is explicitly built as a “special economic function zone” with a 119.5 sq km start-up area. 中国自贸区先行试点开放再向全国推广；临港新片区（2019 年 8 月 6 … Lingang & free trade zones playbookRead more
Services sector opening: new pilots and CEPA upgrades
The 2026 “Stabilizing Foreign Investment” plan expands services-sector opening pilots to vocational training, vocational colleges and high-level STEM universities. 2026年”固稳促优”方案将服务业开放试点扩大至职业技能培训、职业院校与高水平理工农医类大学。 The Beijing Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Service Sector Opening will pilot digital-economy and healthcare modern-service measures. 北京国家服务业扩大开放综合示范区将先行先试数字经济、医药健康等现代服务业举措。 The CEPA … Services sector opening: new pilots and CEPA upgradesRead more
Stabilizing Foreign Investment Action Plan: 15 measures at a glance
On 16 June 2026, MOFCOM, NDRC and MOF issued the “Action Plan for Stabilizing and Improving Foreign Investment” (商资发〔2026〕97号), approved by the State Council, with measures rolling out from 1 July 2026. 2026年6月16日，商务部、国家发展改革委、财政部印发《利用外资固稳促优行动方案》（商资发〔2026〕97号），经国务院同意，相关举措自2026年7月1日起落地。 The plan sets out 15 measures across … Stabilizing Foreign Investment Action Plan: 15 measures at a glanceRead more
Decoding China’s 2026 Action Plan for Stabilising and Optimising Foreign Investment
On 16 June 2026, MOFCOM, NDRC and MOF issued the *Action Plan for Stabilising and Optimising Foreign Investment* (Document No. 97 of 2026), a 15-measure package across five dimensions approved by the State Council. 2026年6月16日，商务部、国家发展改革委、财政部联合印发《利用外资固稳促优行动方案》（商资发〔2026〕97号），经国务院同意，围绕五大维度推出15条举措。 The Plan shifts the policy … Decoding China’s 2026 Action Plan for Stabilising and Optimising Foreign InvestmentRead more
Negative list revision enters effect
The 2024 edition (Order No. 23, published 8 September 2024) took effect on 1 November 2024, replacing the 2021 edition; as of 2026 it remains the operative list. 2024 年版（第 23 号令，2024 年 9 月 8 日发布）于 2024 年 11 … Negative list revision enters effectRead more
Foreign Investment Security Review in China: What Investors Must File and When (2026)
Foreign investments that may affect national security must be self-filed with the working mechanism office before implementation; the office may also require filing.可能影响国家安全的外商投资，须在实施前主动向工作机制办公室申报；办公室亦可要求当事人申报。 The mandatory filing scope centres on military/defence-related fields and on acquiring controlling interest in important sectors such … Foreign Investment Security Review in China: What Investors Must File and When (2026)Read more
National security review of foreign investment
Security review is a stand-alone ex-ante screening under the Foreign Investment Law (Art. 35) and the 2020 Security Review Measures (Order No. 37, effective 18 January 2021) — it can block or condition a deal even where the negative list … National security review of foreign investmentRead more
Foreign Investor M&A of Chinese Enterprises: The 2026 Reform Direction
China is revising the rules on foreign investors’ acquisition of domestic enterprises to streamline procedure and payment terms, with stronger inter-agency coordination.中国正修订外国投资者并购境内企业的规定，优化并购管理流程与对价支付要求，并强化部门协同。 The 2026 “stabilise and optimise foreign investment” action plan explicitly tasks MOFCOM with accelerating the revised M&A provisions.2026 … Foreign Investor M&A of Chinese Enterprises: The 2026 Reform DirectionRead more
Foreign M&A in China: process & approvals
Since 2020, domestic-enterprise M&A is no longer a commerce-department approval event — it runs through the negative list, information reporting, plus merger control and security review where triggered. 2020 年后，并购境内企业不再是商务部门审批事件——经负面清单、信息报告办理，并在触发时通过经营者集中与安全审查。 Merger-control thresholds (Order No. 773, effective 26 January 2024): worldwide … Foreign M&A in China: process & approvalsRead more