Year-ender: 10 highlights in China's foreign investment

New negative lists expand market access for foreign investors

China on June 30 rolled out revised negative lists for foreign investment market access, introducing greater opening-up and allowing foreign investors to run majority-share-controlling or wholly-owned businesses in more sectors.

The nationwide negative list is slashed from 48 items to 40, and the one for pilot free trade zones (FTZ) is cut from 45 to 37. They went into effect on July 30.

The negative lists for market access outline sectors, fields and businesses off-limits for investors. Industries, fields and businesses not on the lists are open for investment to all market players. Chinese authorities revise the negative lists for market access on an annual basis.