China’s external trade and investment landscape is undergoing a transformative period as 2025 approaches—the final year of its current five-year economic plan. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty and intensifying competition, the country is leveraging innovative trade models and targeted policies to ensure resilience and growth. For international investors, this strategy unveils new opportunities, particularly in emerging sectors and markets.

Cross-border e-commerce has become a pivotal engine for China's trade growth. Liang Ming, Director of the Foreign Trade Department at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, revealed that over 120,000 enterprises are now active in this sector, including 16,000 recognized as high-tech companies. These businesses have outperformed expectations, contributing significantly to the country's trade volume.

This robust expansion reflects global trends in digital trade, providing foreign investors with opportunities to collaborate with Chinese firms specializing in logistics, technology platforms, and market entry solutions.

Despite challenges, China's trade figures for 2024 reached unprecedented heights. Total imports and exports for each quarter surpassed 10 trillion yuan, fueled by a comprehensive industrial ecosystem and competitive global positioning.

However, headwinds remain. Trade remedy investigations against Chinese exports surged to 193 cases in 2024—a nearly 50% increase over previous records. In response, China has implemented counter-cyclical policies to support exporters, including enhanced credit insurance and risk management tools. These measures aim to reassure foreign partners about the stability and reliability of Chinese supply chains.

Export credit insurance has become a linchpin of China's trade support strategy, according to Lou Difei, Head of Country Risk Research at the China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure). Targeted measures have prioritized emerging markets, including ASEAN, Africa, and Latin America, where exports grew by over 20% in 2024.

Additionally, buyer's credit programs offered by the Export-Import Bank of China have seen 20% growth, signaling rising demand for Chinese high-end manufacturing, particularly advanced machinery. High-end equipment exports are projected to grow by 40% in 2025, underscoring global confidence in Chinese innovation.