Global CEOs show increased investment interest in China: PwC report

The investment appeal of the Chinese mainland is rebounding, establishing it as a key anchor in global capital allocation, according to PwC's 29th CEO Survey China report, released on Wednesday.

The survey reveals that 11 percent of global CEOs now rank the Chinese mainland among their top three investment destinations, up from 9 percent in 2025. Notably, over one-fifth of surveyed business leaders from countries including Indonesia, South Korea, Germany and Switzerland placed China in their top three.

Sector-specific data shows that 14 percent of global companies in the industrial products and services sector consider China as a top-three investment destination, marking an increase from the previous year. This is followed by the energy, utilities and resources sector, where the proportion rose to 13 percent, up from 10 percent the previous year.

In addition, Chinese CEOs are leading their global peers in macroeconomic confidence. They have consecutively raised their expectations for global economic growth, with 67 percent optimistic about a sustained recovery over the next 12 months—a figure higher than the 61 percent global average. This sustained optimism over a three-year horizon underscores their strong belief in the long-term resilience of the Chinese market.

"Despite near-term revenue pressures, global CEOs maintain robust confidence in mid-to-long-term development, with the strategic resilience of Chinese CEOs being particularly outstanding," said Zhou Xing, head of Public Affairs, PwC China. "This long-term optimism stems from China's stable and predictable business environment, coupled with the corporate sector's agile strategic adaptability and continuous innovation."

The survey also indicates that AI adoption by Chinese companies has entered a phase of positive, revenue-driven returns, outpacing global progress. Specifically, 52 percent of Chinese CEOs reported increased revenues from AI, significantly higher than the 29 percent global average. Furthermore, 17 percent achieved a dual benefit of "cost reduction and revenue growth" through AI, exceeding the global figure by 5 percentage points.

Chinese firms are leading the global average in applying AI across five key business areas: demand generation, support services, product/service/experience enhancement, direction setting and demand fulfillment.

"Chinese companies are now at the forefront of global practice in AI implementation and value realization," said Wilson Chow, Artificial Intelligence Leader at PwC China, via video link.

Additionally, companies in the Chinese mainland demonstrate strong resilience against supply-side volatility. Over 40 percent exhibit significant operational flexibility, well above the 28 percent global average. This strength is attributed to China's comprehensive industrial ecosystem and diversified supply chain, which serve as core advantages in mitigating external shocks.

"CEOs must adopt a long-term perspective, balancing risk management with value creation, and drive a trinity upgrade encompassing strategy, organization, and ecosystem to systematically capture emerging opportunities," said Julius Shen, Lead Partner, Strategy&China at PwC.

As China embarks on its new five-year plan and deepens its transition to high-quality development, Chinese enterprises are taking proactive measures. By optimizing their global investment footprints, accelerating innovation, integrating AI with core business functions, and building multi-dimensional operational resilience, they are unleashing vigorous momentum for sustainable growth and injecting fresh vitality into the global economy, the report said.

PwC's 29th CEO Survey China report includes insights from 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and regions, including 216 from the Chinese mainland. It explores core issues such as macroeconomic confidence, global investment strategy, innovation and AI application, offering a comprehensive view of corporate development and strategic considerations in an era of global reconfiguration and technological revolution.