Chinese investors' appetite for Europe growing

CHINA's switch from growing exports to promoting domestic market growth is triggering a wave of outward investments by Chinese firms and opening doors for foreign firms to invest more in the country.

The policy change is increasing China's appetite for technology, brands and resources other than commodities, such as labour and capital resources. It is integrating the country further into the global economy and will make the Chinese consumer a driver of global economic growth in the future.

China has become a major financial player on the global stage. Its US$ 9.4 trillion economy accounts for 12 per cent of global GDP and the nation has US$4.01 trillion of foreign exchange reserves. But China's direct and portfolio investment assets have a lot of room to grow. They account for only 6 per cent of the world's overall US$1.46 trillion of overseas direct investments, but this picture is changing.