China to deepen economic ties with Asean, focusing on high-growth sectors

FOREIGN direct investment (FDI) flows from China to Asean have surged, particularly in high-growth sectors such as electric vehicles (EV), semiconductors and renewable energy.

This marks a sharp shift from the pre-2018 era – before US-China trade tensions – when investments were primarily concentrated in real estate and financial services.

This strategic pivot aligns with a broader trend of Chinese companies pushing to expand overseas, said Mark Greeven, professor of management innovation and dean of Asia at the Institute for Management Development (IMD).