A view of Shanghai Photo: VCG

A good number of foreign companies have expanded their footprint in China since the beginning of 2026, betting on greater opportunities in the huge market as the world's second largest economy provides certainty of high-quality development, supportive policies to use foreign capital, and a commitment to maintaining the multilateral trading system.

Two new Walmart's Sam's Club stores are scheduled to open in North China's Tianjin in 2026, with Tianjin Hongqiao store expected to start business during the third quarter of 2026, and the other store in Shangdong Jinmao Smart Science City in Dongli district, Tianjin, is set to open at the end of the year, according to the WeChat account of the Tianjin municipal government on Tuesday.

In addition, seeds and pesticides maker Syngenta Group, a Europe-based subsidiary of Sinochem Holdings, announced on Monday the launch of its new plant protection factory in Nantong city, East China's Jiangsu Province, and the construction of a global crop protection innovation center in Shanghai's Jinshan district.

"These two major milestones mark that Syngenta Group is continuing to increase investment in research and development and manufacturing in China and will further promote technological progress and green transformation in China's plant protection industry," the company said in a press release.

Recently, French company Michelin Group inaugurated its first global "future factory" in Shanghai, with a total project investment of 3 billion yuan ($425 million). The new plant features advanced, flexible production systems designed to serve China's expanding new-energy vehicle market, according to the WeChat account of Michelin China.

"Amid growing geopolitical uncertainties and a new round of technological revolution, China boasts stable industrial chains, a massive consumer market, abundant talent and a sound business environment, rendering it an irreplaceable investment destination for multinationals," Bian Yongzu, an economic analyst and executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In 2026, China continues to send positive signals in expanding opening-up with preferential industrial policies for foreign investment, thereby delivering enormous attractiveness to global investors, Bian said, stressing that "China's unique advantages in manufacturing and real economy will help foreign enterprises grow stably and securely."

According to a report on the outlook for multinational companies in China that KPMG sent to the Global Times, 67 percent of the respondents are moderately confident in next three to five year growth prospects in China, while 94 percent said they stick to investing in the Chinese market.

"Multinational companies are demonstrating a pragmatic commitment to the China market - by streamlining operations, localizing, and investing digitally to secure long-term profitability and competitiveness despite short-term economic headwinds," it noted. 

According to data released by Alibaba's shopping platform Tmall Global on Tuesday, a total of 2,415 overseas brands opened their first stores on Tmall Global in 2025, posting double-digit growth, underscoring that the Chinese market remains a must-compete market for them.

Despite abrupt changes in the external environment and mounting domestic difficulties and challenges in 2025, China's economy posted 5 percent growth to reach a record 140.1879 trillion yuan ($20.01 trillion) last year, showing a trajectory of resilient and stable growth and remaining a powerhouse of the world economy.

"The Chinese market is not only a world-class consumption center but also an important engine for innovation-driven development and industrial upgrading," said Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group.

China's development is an opportunity for the world. To walk with China is to walk with opportunities. TCP Group will continue to increase its investment and resource allocation in China, deepen R&D innovation, promote digital transformation, and accelerate brand upgrading, so as to meet the increasingly diverse needs of Chinese consumers with healthy, high-quality products and services and contribute to the high-quality development of China's economy.

In recent years, China has rolled out multiple policies to attract foreign investment.

Wang Ya, an official heading the foreign investment management department under the Ministry of Commerce, said at a press conference on Monday that China will remain unwavering in expanding high-standard opening up as it seeks to foster new strengths in attracting foreign investment and enhance the "Invest in China" brand.

Wang said the ministry will expand market access and the opening-up of the services sector, including telecommunications, healthcare and education. It will also support foreign-funded enterprises in the services sector in expanding their value chains.

"For global investors, deeply understanding the certainty of China's economic development environment, and actively integrating into China's economic transformation and upgrading process is the key to grasping the future. Investing in China means investing in the future, and walking together with China means walking with opportunities," Bian said.