中国对外商投资的吸引力

China's economy is evolving and the country's foreign investment situation is changing as well. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China says the number of European companies that are planning to come to China this year has fallen by 30 percent.

Microsoft China announced earlier this year that it was closing its factories in Guangdong and Beijing. Japanese watch brand Citizen has also closed its factory in China.

While it may seem as if foreign companies are no longer interested in the Chinese market, Denis Depoux of consultants Roland Berger, says the major reason why foreign companies are not expanding their business in China is that most have already benefited from China‘s rapid economic growth, and so foreign direct investment is now gradually reaching a plateau.

"I think foreign companies are a little less optimistic about China, at least those have been here for the last ten, twenty years, sometimes more than that. While we see that the newcomers are still quite optimistic about the Chinese market, some of the companies have been invested here for the last twenty years and have already enjoyed the first wave of growth and development in China that expanded their operations," Berger said.

"Some companies are not looking forward to expanding their operations anymore in China simply because they are more mature."

There are foreign business still expanding in China. Japanese clothing company Uniqlo announced this year that it's planning to open 1,000 more stores in China in the next five years. British chemical manufacturer INEOS is building the world's largest acrylonitrile factory in Tianjing, despite the slowing economy. The new plant will be completed in 2017.

Last year, 25 percent of foreign investments came from service-related companies. That's according to Roland Berger's Business Confidence Report. The report points out that the consumption potential of China’s middle-class is attracting more service businesses to China.

"We are talking about 3 or 4 less percent growth of the GDP every year, as compared to previous years. But in absolute terms, this is formidable growth, which foreign companies are trying to tap, filled by the middle class. That's a mass market, filled by the upper middle class for premium brands and high-tech products, and the fashion industry," Berger said.

"But it's also filled by B2P demands to modernise the Chinese industry. So, there is a correlation between foreign direct investment and the pace of  Chinese economic growth. Foreign direct investment is not slowing, it's shifting, and following the new pace, and the new direction of Chinese economic growth.

Depoux expects foreign investment in China to remain steady for the remainder of the year. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China also says that half of its members remain confident about the future of the Chinese market.