Chinese companies boost investment overseas

Chinese companies have been actively promoting international investment and cooperation, with the total outbound investment amounting to $145 billion in 2021, up 9.2 percent year-on-year, according to a report released during the ongoing 22nd China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT).The 2022 International Investment Green Development Forum, which was held in Xiamen on Sept 8, issued a series of reports on the development of Chinese companies in Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa and the United Kingdom during the 2021-22 period.The reports show that overseas Chinese-funded companies have carried out diverse investments in foreign markets.For example, Chinese companies' investment in Russia has expanded from traditional sectors such as energy, oil, gas, agriculture and forestry, to the manufacturing industry involving automobiles, home appliances, and food processing. The investment models also vary from buying stakes, mergers and acquisitions, to setting up foundations.In the UK, Chinese companies' capital is more likely to flow into the high-end technological sector, such as the internet of things, cloud computing, digital technology and the research and development of electric vehicles.The reports also point out new opportunities and market potential in these countries, such as the medical and bio-technology industries in the UK, the digital economy and distance education in South Africa, and the renewable energy market in Brazil, which have ample development space for Chinese companies to explore.