While multinational corporations (MNCs) mushroom all over China, their regional distribution is somewhat uneven. According to Wang Chao, assistant minister of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), policy guarantee and support will be provided to MNCs relocating to and increasing investment in the central and western region.

Against the backdrop of a recovering global economy, how MNCs can continue to participate in and reap profits from China’s economic development is a matter of interest to many.

"MNCs should cope with this new situation by adopting an innovative transformation strategy, transferring more high technology and R&D centers to China, placing more emphasis on technological innovation and industry structural upgrade, and attaching more importance to developing green economy and circular economy," said Wang.

MOFCOM plays an important role in this process. Wang pointed out that the Chinese government will devote continuous efforts to deepen reform of the investment management system, improve the investment environment, help MNCs to integrate into China’s sustainable growth, and provide the necessary policy guarantee and support to MNCs investing in such sectors as advanced manufacturing industries, new and high-tech industries, new energy and energy saving, as well as to MNCs relocating to and increasing investment in the central and western region.

In 2009, China granted approval to the establishment of 23,435 new foreign-invested enterprises, with the amount of foreign capital actually utilised reaching US$90.03 billion.

At present, China’s way of boosting economic growth is undergoing changes, moving from investment- and export-led to consumption-led and supplemented by investment. This change is bound to create greater market demand, creating immense market opportunities for MNCs.