China

Economy & industry overview

China is the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the largest by purchasing-power parity, with a diversified industrial base spanning manufacturing, technology, finance, energy, and consumer goods. The economy recorded official real GDP growth of 5.0% in 2024, driven by strong export performance, industrial output, and infrastructure investment, though persistent deflationary pressures and a prolonged property-sector downturn weighed on domestic demand. China is the world's largest exporter and a dominant producer of electronics, machinery, steel, chemicals, electric vehicles, and renewable energy equipment. Financial markets are centred on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE), with a combined domestic market capitalisation exceeding $11.7 trillion in 2024. The government continues to pursue a strategy of transitioning from investment- and export-led growth toward higher-value-added manufacturing and domestic consumption.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$18.74T
GDP growth real, annual	5.0%
Inflation annual	0.2%
Population people	1.41B
GDP per capita USD	$13,122
Market cap total listed, USD	$11.76T
Market cap / GDP	62.7%
Unemployment	5.1%
Listed companies	5,462
Exchange	Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank – World Development Indicators, IMF World Economic Outlook (April 2026), China National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Trading Economics, FocusEconomics, Macrotrends, TheGlobalEconomy.com, CEIC Data, Wikipedia – List of countries by stock market capitalisation, US-China Business Council.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Shanghai Stock Exchange
Code	SSE
Website	www.sse.com.cn
Currency	CNY

Local broker access

Foreign retail investors generally cannot directly purchase A-shares on the SSE or SZSE without a domestic brokerage account. Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) and the Stock Connect programmes (Shanghai–Hong Kong Connect and Shenzhen–Hong Kong Connect) are the primary regulated channels for international access to mainland-listed equities. H-shares (Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies) and US-listed ADRs/depositary receipts provide additional access points. Offshore brokers offering China exposure typically route through Hong Kong or use synthetic instruments.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Foreign nationals residing and working in China require a residence permit tied to employment, family, or study. Long-term permanent residency (the 'China Green Card') is granted on a discretionary basis and is historically difficult to obtain. Tax residency is triggered after 183 days in a calendar year. All foreign currency movements are subject to capital controls administered by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).