New Materials Included in Encouraged Foreign Investment Catalog

The 2025 edition of the *Catalogue of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment* (hereinafter referred to as the "Encouraged Catalogue"), jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce, is set to take effect on February 1. Compared with the previous version issued in 2022, the new edition has been expanded and systematically optimized in response to changes in domestic and international situations, demonstrating China's firm determination to continuously expand high-level opening-up. Reporters have noted that a variety of new materials are listed in the *Encouraged Catalogue*.

The "Encouraged Catalogue" comprises fourteen major categories and 607 sub-items. Within the manufacturing sector, new material categories include the Chemical Raw Materials and Chemical Products Manufacturing, Chemical Fiber Manufacturing, Rubber and Plastic Products Industry, and Non-metallic Mineral Products Industry. Specifically, the Chemical Raw Materials and Chemical Products Manufacturing sub-category covers: novel silicone downstream products, supporting raw materials for synthetic materials, polyethylenepolyamine, high carbon alpha-olefin copolymer metallocene polyethylene, cyclic olefin polymers (COC/COP), high-reactivity polyisobutylene and other high-end polyolefins, synthetic fiber raw materials (1,3-propanediol), synthetic rubber, engineering plastics and plastic alloys, fine chemicals (such as sealants, adhesive tapes, and production of key raw materials), water-based inks and adhesives, high-performance coatings, high-performance fluororesins, fluoropolymer films, organic polymer materials, metallocene polypropylene, high-performance polyurethanes and their downstream new material products, and raw materials for lithium batteries (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), among others.

The chemical fiber manufacturing industry involves the continuous copolymerization modification of differentiated and functional polyester (PET), including cationic dyeable polyester (CDP, ECDP), alkali-soluble polyester (COPET), and high-shrinkage polyester (HSPET); the development, production, and application of high-performance fibers and products (such as carbon fiber); the development and production of new types of polyester and fibers, such as polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT); biodegradable fiber materials; and new types of polyamide, as well as differentiated, functional, and high-value-added modified nylon.

The rubber and plastics products industry involves the development and production of: silicone products, biodegradable plastics and their products, new photobiological multifunctional wide agricultural film, pollution-free biodegradable agricultural film, sorting, recycling and reuse of waste plastics, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coated film, functional polyester (PET) film, solvent-free or thermal composite energy-saving and low-carbon polypropylene film, oriented polystyrene (OPS) film, and new packaging materials such as paper-plastic based multi-layer composites.

The non-metallic mineral products industry involves the annual production of 10 million square meters or more of elastomeric and plastomeric modified asphalt waterproofing membranes, wide-width (2 meters or more) EPDM rubber waterproofing membranes and supporting materials, wide-width (2 meters or more) PVC waterproofing membranes, and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) waterproofing membranes.

Yuan Qian, Deputy Director and Researcher of the Developed Economies Research Office at the Institute for Foreign Economic Studies of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, stated that foreign investment is a proactive force driving China's scientific innovation and technological progress. The new version of the *Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment* continues to prioritize scientific and technological innovation as a key direction for guiding foreign investment. By increasing support for sectors such as advanced manufacturing, high technology, and R&D—specifically focusing on end products, critical components, and essential raw materials in fields like equipment manufacturing—it will bolster the development of new quality productive forces.