The Zhitong Finance App learned that on October 15, the Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference. In response to reporters' questions, spokesman He Yadong said that recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, compiled and completed the 2025 Foreign Investment Information Report annual report data. According to the data, 461,000 foreign-funded enterprises submitted annual reports in 2025, an increase of 5.7% over the previous year. China's foreign direct investment equity stock is 26.8 trillion yuan, growing for 6 consecutive years, ranking second in the world.
Furthermore, the participating foreign-funded enterprises had excellent efficiency, with an average profit margin of 8.7%. Among them, the profit margin of foreign-funded manufacturing enterprises is 2.2 percentage points higher than the profit margin of industrial enterprises according to national regulations. These data fully show that China's hyperscale market is a fertile ground that can be converted into real profits. We welcome enterprises from all countries to continue to deeply cultivate China and share development dividends.
The original text is as follows:
The Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference
[He Yadong]: Dear reporters and friends:
Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the Ministry of Commerce's regular press conference. I don't have any information I need to share with you today. Next, I would like to answer the questions raised by my journalist friends.
Please ask questions below.
[Guangdong Radio and Television Reporter]: The first phase of the 140th Canton Fair was held in Guangzhou from October 15 to October 19. Can you tell us about the situation?
[He Yadong]: In the year of the “15th Five-Year Plan”, the Canton Fair celebrated its 70th anniversary. President Xi Jinping sent a special congratulatory letter, fully affirming the achievements of the Canton Fair and pointing out the direction for further organizing the Canton Fair and promoting mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation under the new situation. Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, saying that the Canton Fair is always permanent and that the more it runs, the better.
The first phase of the Canton Fair had the theme of “Advanced Manufacturing”, with an exhibition area of 520,000 square meters, more than 25,000 booths, and 12,000 enterprises showcased cutting-edge achievements such as artificial intelligence and green and low carbon. Guided by the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important congratulatory letter, we will organize the Canton Fair and continue to polish the “gold sign”. Thank you.
[Cover News Reporter]: E-commerce in China is developing rapidly, and consumers are paying more and more attention to product quality and consumer experience. Recently, 7 departments including the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the “Notice on Implementing the “Five Excellent” Actions for Quality E-commerce”. Please explain what are the considerations for launching this action? How will the next step be to promote the transformation of the e-commerce industry from scale expansion to quality improvement?
[He Yadong]: Since 2013, China's online retail market has steadily ranked first in the world, and online consumption has been deeply integrated into people's daily lives. The “Five Excellent” Quality E-Commerce Campaign focuses on deploying 15 specific initiatives, with “quality” as the keyword, leading the upgrading of e-commerce quality through the five dimensions of platform, merchant, consumer, silk road e-commerce, and standard standards.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to work with relevant departments and localities to implement the “Five Excellent” campaign to shape a healthy competitive pattern that emphasizes quality, service comparison, and superior supply, so that good products and services can be more easily discovered and selected by consumers, so that merchants can receive market returns on their investment in improving quality, thereby further activating the consumer market, creating a virtuous cycle of “quality supply, quality service, and quality consumption”, and promoting the sustainable and healthy development of e-commerce in China. Thank you.
[CCTV Reporter]: We have noticed that despite the overall pressure on global multinational investment, many multinational companies continue to be optimistic about the Chinese market. Can you introduce the business conditions of foreign-funded enterprises in China?
[He Yadong]: Recently, the Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, compiled the annual report data for the 2025 Foreign Investment Information Report. I would like to use some of these data sets to introduce the operating characteristics of foreign-funded enterprises.
First, the scale is stable. A total of 461,000 foreign-funded enterprises submitted annual reports, an increase of 5.7% over the previous year. China's foreign direct investment equity stock is 26.8 trillion yuan, growing for 6 consecutive years, ranking second in the world.
Second, the benefits are good. The average profit margin of the reported foreign-funded enterprises reached 8.7%. Among them, the profit margin of foreign-funded manufacturing enterprises is 2.2 percentage points higher than the profit margin of industrial enterprises according to national regulations.
Third, it has contributed greatly. The import and export volume of foreign-funded enterprises accounts for one-third of the country's total import and export volume of goods, and tax payments account for one-seventh of the country's tax revenue. Over the past five years, they have absorbed more than 30 million people in employment.
These data fully show that China's hyperscale market is a fertile ground that can be converted into real profits. We welcome enterprises from all countries to continue to deeply cultivate China and share development dividends. Thank you.
[CNBC Reporter]: European Commission Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Shevjovic said on Friday that the current consensus between China and Europe on hybrid vehicle exports comes from China's understanding of European public opinion. What is the Chinese side's response to this? Also, will the rare earth export license mentioned by the European Commission be affected by the January situation in the Sino-US trade negotiations?
[He Yadong]: Regarding the first question you mentioned, I would like to emphasize that the understanding reached between the two sides in the field of hybrid vehicles is mutually beneficial and is based on the three principles emphasized and confirmed by the two sides under the WTO rules framework, namely compliance throughout the process, respect for facts, and non-discrimination. The relevant consensus strongly protected the actual interests of Chinese enterprises and avoided the escalation of trade friction between China and Europe. This fully shows that negotiations between China and Europe through rules-based consensus can not only resolve issues, but also deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote the upward balance and development of Sino-European trade.
Regarding the second question you mentioned, the Chinese side is willing to continue to facilitate the approval of rare earth export licenses to Europe, and also hopes that the European side will facilitate the equal resolution of key licensing cases against China in the dual-use field. Together with the European side, China will continue to play the role of the export control dialogue mechanism and promote the development of dual-use goods trade between the two sides. Thank you.
[US International Market News Service Reporter]: Following the Department of Commerce's response to the joint statement on “structural overcapacity” led by the United States on October 9, has the Department of Commerce received any signs or information indicating that some economies are planning to take restrictive measures against Chinese products? If this were to happen, what specific countermeasures would the Chinese side prepare to take?
[He Yadong]: Regarding the issues you mentioned, the Chinese side has stated its relevant position many times, opposing the politicization of economic and trade issues by individual countries and actually using trade protectionism in the name of so-called “overcapacity.” If the economies concerned use this as an excuse to take measures that harm China's interests, China will make a firm and necessary response. Thank you.
[Reuters Reporter]: How will the understanding reached between China and Europe on the hybrid vehicle trade be implemented? Does China accept the establishment of an automobile export licensing arrangement to control sales of exports to Europe? Who determines the exact proportion of the quota allocated to which Chinese brand? Some economists believe that this agreement actually “picks winners” in the EU market. What do you think about this?
[He Yadong]: I have just responded to your question. I would like to emphasize once again that the two sides reached an understanding within the framework of complying with WTO rules. Regarding specific details, China and Europe will continue to maintain communication. The Chinese side will also listen openly and transparently to the opinions of the industry on this matter. Thank you.
This article was selected from the “Ministry of Commerce” official website, Zhitong Finance Editor: Jiang Yuanhua.