Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times

Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from the founder of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China. Xi expressed appreciation for the founder's deep affection for China and the confidence of Danish enterprises in China regarding the country's future development. China has been and will remain an ideal, secure and promising destination for foreign investors, Xi said in the letter.

This is not only a positive response regarding the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Denmark, but also a powerful signal of China's ongoing commitment to opening up and optimizing its business environment. In a time when global economic recovery remains sluggish and geopolitical tensions are intensifying, China stands out as a top choice for foreign investors due to three key strengths: its market scale and industrial system, certainty in top-level policy design and institutional guarantees as well as promising development opportunities driven by openness and shared growth.

First, the "ideal" nature of the Chinese market is embodied in its irreplaceably massive market size and complete industrial chain. In 2024, China's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 48.8 trillion yuan (around $6.79 trillion), marking a 3.5 percent increase over the previous year, reflecting the strong momentum of domestic demand. Also, new forms of consumption were especially dynamic. In addition, China's fully integrated industrial chain continues to attract high-end manufacturing to take root.

Second, the "security" of the Chinese market is rooted in the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and solid institutional guarantees. The secure investment environment stems from the CPC Central Committee's strategic planning based on coordinating "the domestic and international situations," reflecting China's commitment and responsibility in building an open world economy and promoting common development. Under the CPC Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership, China consistently balances development and security, promoting growth through greater openness while reinforcing security through sustained development. A series of top-level designs and institutional innovations has created a stable, transparent and predictable policy environment for foreign businesses operating in China.

For example, last year the General Office of the State Council issued an action plan to steadily promote high-level opening up and make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment. The plan not only removed actions and measures against fair competition to better serve foreign enterprises and build a fair and competitive environment, but also allowed wider participation by foreign financial institutions in banking and insurance. In sharp contrast to isolationism and protectionism, China has consistently upheld its stance of rejecting "decoupling and severing supply chains." 

Third, the proactiveness of the Chinese market is reflected in its openness of sharing new development opportunities. China has consistently upheld the belief that "openness brings progress, while self-seclusion leaves one behind." Committed to connecting its own development with global opportunities, China continues to advance institutional opening-up and transform the outcomes of high-quality development into public goods shared with the world. Today's China is not only the "world's factory," but also a global innovation hub, fully affirming the strategic value of the belief that "investing in China is investing in the future."

Denmark was among the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Denmark diplomatic ties. The two countries have sound bilateral relations and close cooperation in economy and trade, green development and innovation. With Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen paying an official visit to China from May 17 to 20, both sides are encouraged to take this opportunity to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and continue boosting global investor confidence through institutional innovation, market potential and industrial upgrading. 

"Believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow." In a world economy full of uncertainty, China remains a proactive force that brings certainty to the world and creates possibilities for cooperation.

Xue Yi is a professor at the School of International Economics and Trade at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). Xu Mengyao is a doctoral student at the School of International Economics and Trade at UIBE. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn