US companies optimistic on China growth, opening up foreign investment

The outlook on sustainable eco growth in China was positive with 46 per cent of respondents expressing confidence the govt would further open market to FI

US companies are more confident China will further open up to foreign investment in coming years, a top business lobby said on Tuesday, but it cautioned that an “astounding” three-quarters of its members do not feel welcomed by the Chinese government.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China also said in a report on its annual membership survey “even-handed enforcement of laws and regulations regardless of shareholder nationality” and an open investment environment were needed to reduce trade frictions between China and the US. 

“After several years of contraction, more companies are expanding investment, yet the growth in investment will remain much slower than historical levels,” the chamber said.

The outlook on sustainable economic growth in China was “generally positive”, with 46 per cent of respondents expressing confidence that the government would further open China’s market to foreign investment within the next three years, up from 34 per cent in the previous survey, it said.