China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce have unveiled the 2025 version of the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, outlining key measures to attract and use foreign capital with greater efforts, the NDRC said on Wednesday.

The catalogue, which will be effective from February 1, 2026, represents an important policy for promoting foreign investment in China. Additionally, it is also a key policy document for guiding foreign investment in specific industries and regions, the NDRC noted.

The introduction of the new catalogue aims to implement the Chinese government's decisions and plans on stabilizing foreign investment, and guide more foreign investment toward advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech, energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as the central and western regions and the northeastern region, it said.

Compared to the 2022 version, the new document features a net increase of 205 items and includes 303 modifications. In the advanced manufacturing sector, for instance, the new catalogue adds and expands relevant items such as terminal products, components, and raw materials to enhance the development level of the sector's industrial chain and supply chain.

"We are currently engaged in industrial cloud business, providing virtual twin solutions for enterprises in fields such as equipment manufacturing, automobiles, urban infrastructure, commercial aviation, and artificial intelligence, aimed at accelerating the realization and deepening of the digitalization, intelligence, and globalization of the manufacturing industry. The country encourages foreign investment in advanced manufacturing and modern services, which precisely covers our business direction, thus further strengthening our confidence," said Guo Tiandan, director of Cloud Business at Dassault System in China.

"For international industrial investment institutions, it is a very positive signal, as it means a long-term, stable and predictable strategy for us. Foreign investment can play many new roles, including making more connections with the international market for innovative science and technology, innovative research and life sciences," said Carl Wu, United Family Healthcare CEO.

In the next step, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to enhance guidance and coordination to ensure the effective implementation of relevant measures in the catalogue.

"Next, the National Development and Reform Commission will work with relevant departments to enhance guidance and coordination, ensure the implementation of policies and measures, expand foreign investment inflows step by step, and organize and launch international industrial investment cooperation and matchmaking events at an appropriate time to build a platform for foreign investors coming to China and local authorities promoting foreign investment," said Jing Qin, deputy director-general of the NDRC's department of foreign investment.