Businesses deepening regional integration

Chinese companies are ramping up investment into Southeast Asia and accelerating digital and green upgrades at home, in order to benefit from the reorganization of global supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties, according to a new survey by Singapore's United Overseas Bank.

In the UOB Business Outlook Study 2025 (Chinese Mainland Edition), 86 percent of respondents said they plan to expand overseas within three years. Markets within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations emerged as the top choice, with 48 percent of firms identifying the region as a key investment priority. The findings reflect how Chinese enterprises are moving from exploratory market entry to deeper regional integration.

"Chinese firms are no longer just testing foreign waters, they're laying down long-term roots," said Xin Tao, head of wholesale banking at UOB China.