Most surveyed Chinese enterprises optimistic about outbound investment: report

Over 90 percent of the surveyed Chinese enterprises are optimistic about the future of China's outbound direct investment (ODI), said a report released by the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Friday.

The figure was revealed by the 2024 edition of a report titled "Survey on Chinese Enterprises Outbound Direct Investment Status and Intention", which has been released annually since 2008 by the CCPIT to track and analyze the ODI situation of Chinese enterprises.

The latest report showed that throughout 2024 Chinese enterprises posted steady growth of ODI cooperation. Over 80 percent of the surveyed enterprises said their intention to invest outbound was as strong as before or has been increasing, and over 90 percent of them were relatively optimistic about the future of China's ODI.

The report also gave detailed analysis of the current status of China's ODI. The released data showed that Belt and Road partner countries were favored by Chinese enterprises in terms of ODI.

Fifty percent of the surveyed companies gave priority to manufacturing industry when investing outbound, and nearly 30 percent of them prioritized wholesale and retail industries, said the report.

To expand overseas market was the goal for nearly 70 percent of the surveyed companies in their outbound investment; about 40 percent of them aimed to enhance the international recognition of their brands; and more than 30 percent of them said their goal was to lower the cost of production and operation, the released figures showed.

Besides, over 60 percent of the surveyed companies reported increased or steady rates of return on ODI, the report also said.

Investment from Chinese enterprises has also benefited the host countries the survey showed, with nearly 70 percent of the surveyed companies saying the value of their export to the host countries grew after they started investing outbound, and among them over 30 percent reported increased export of key equipment and raw materials.

"In terms of social responsibility, 87.5 percent of the surveyed enterprises said they fulfilled their social responsibilities in the host countries, and 82.2 percent of them said the effect of social responsibility fulfillment basically met the expectations," said Sun Xiao, CCPIT spokesman, at a press briefing Friday.

Most surveyed Chinese enterprises optimistic about outbound investment: report

Homegrown snow gear and facilities are now helping resorts across China provide better services to skiers who are expecting domestic brands to roll out more high-quality and thoughtful products that fit better with habits of Asian users.

The rising demand of Chinese skiers is boosted by a growing market with industry reports predicting that the country's ice and snow economy will surpass 1 trillion yuan (about 140 billion U.S. dollars) by 2025.

Since hitting the slope is no longer a niche sport, resorts across China receive an increasing influx of snow enthusiasts. In particular, the Beidahu Ski Resort, one of the best destinations for skiers in northeast China's Jilin Province, is welcoming up to 10,000 snow enthusiasts daily.

Eleven of the 13 cable cars in the resort were designed and produced in China. Running six meters per second, it takes only 12 minutes for them to carry the skiers up to the mountaintop.

"As wind resistance and speed of the cable cars were significantly improved, their quality almost matches the imported products," said Yan Shuai, marketing director of the Beidahu Ski Resort.

Homegrown snowboards made with carbon fiber and protective gear featuring high-tech fabrics are also winning Chinese customers' favor and many of the updated goods are specially designed for Asian users.

"The ski goggle has three layers of sponge padding, which help it fit better with the faces of Asian users and effectively minimize lens fogging during skiing," said Jia Xiaona, a store manager.

As winter sports become increasingly popular in China, domestic brands are receiving increasing anticipation from skiers who believe that it is quality that will finally help homegrown products to win over customers.

"I think many snowboarders feel that Chinese brands need to deliver standout performance to truly impress. Once they do, confidence in these brands will certainly grow. I think the shift will take some time, because we have relied on imported snowboards for so many years," said Li Jiongxuan, a snowboarder from north China's Tianjin Municipality.

Homegrown snow gear, facilities help improve skiing experience in China