{"id":12954,"date":"2023-08-30T11:30:27","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T11:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=12954"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:06:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T09:06:14","slug":"how-do-british-businesses-interpret-chinas-new-24-point-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/how-do-british-businesses-interpret-chinas-new-24-point-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"What are China’s 24 Point Guidelines for foreign investment?"},"content":{"rendered":"

British businesses in China view China\u2019s latest effort to optimise the business environment for foreign investments broadly as a positive development. However, consistent and timely implementation will be key to ensure that they deliver as intended, as CBBC Senior Director Kiran Patel <\/strong>writes in an op-ed originally published by Caixin<\/a><\/h2>\n

On 14 August, China\u2019s State Council released Opinions on Further Optimising the Foreign Investment Environment and Increasing Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment (\u201824 Point Guidelines\u2019). The announcement has been both welcomed and met with cautious optimism by British businesses.<\/p>\n

The \u201c24 Point Guidelines\u201d appear to address some of the fundamental areas of concern and friction within the business environment amongst our members. Therefore, this announcement has been viewed by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) as a positive step towards boosting the perception among British industry in China that this market maintains viable prospects for continued investment, expansion, and growth \u2013 and that state-level policymakers are willing to facilitate the necessary changes to attract foreign capital.<\/p>\n

\"Launchpad<\/a><\/p>\n

While on the surface, China faces well-documented and widely reported economic challenges, the new normal projected GDP growth of between 4% and 5.5% is still exceptional in a global context. Since the reopening of China\u2019s borders for business in March, the lifting of pandemic restrictions and the resumption of international travel, China has been proactive in seeking to resume business as usual and showcase why multinationals and SMEs alike should continue to trust in both the potential and proven track record of the Chinese market \u2013 both re-engaging internationally and introducing stimulus measures in the business environment.<\/p>\n

In a recent survey with a group of leading British multinationals from across a wide range of industries \u2013 including advanced manufacturing, the built environment, financial and professional services, and hospitality sectors \u2013 73% of companies cited that they faced a form of both direct and indirect market access restriction.<\/p>\n

Thus, the \u201c24 Point Guidelines\u201d clearly demonstrate that China\u2019s policymakers see intervention as necessary to restore confidence from foreign investors across a number of key areas.<\/p>\n