Key facts
- China's outward foreign direct investment reached a record $214 billion in 2023.
- US-bound investment from China fell 86% to $4.7 billion in 2023.
- EU-bound investment from China rose 19% to $11.5 billion in 2023.
- Southeast Asia received $22.4 billion in Chinese investment in 2023.
- China's Ministry of Commerce reported the figures.
China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) surged to a record $214 billion in 2023, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce. However, this overall increase masks a dramatic decline in investment directed towards the United States, which plummeted by 86% to $4.7 billion for the year. This sharp drop contrasts with increased investment flows into other regions.
Investment into the European Union saw a 19% rise, reaching $11.5 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia received $22.4 billion in Chinese investment, marking a 7.1% increase. The shift in investment patterns suggests a strategic redirection away from the US, likely influenced by ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical considerations between the two economic powers.