Sustainability impacts of Chinese outward direct investment

Chinese reaction to the steady criticism of their overseas investments ranges from suspicion of hypocrisy on the part of its critics, through admission that there have been a range of problems in the past and that some of these still persist, to an insistence that what counts is the trend, not the fixed photograph of the situation as it is today. [...] It is now accepted that Chinese—and indeed all—investment will and should be judged on the basis of the contribution it makes to sustainable development in the investor’s home country and in the countries and communities hosting the investment. [...] Instead, notions relating to the social and environmental “license to operate” are becoming more important—in large part because of the perceived fairness of an investment and the balance of benefits that it yields—and are becoming ever more central to the sustainability of the investment. [...] Table ES.1: Sustainability Impacts of Chinese ODI Infrastructure Chinese investments in developing countries contribute to the needed development infrastructure development of the host economies; and yet there are mixed views on the quality of Chinese services in the Information Communication and Technology and construction sectors. [...] IISD.org vi Chinese Outward Direct Investment and Sustainable Impact: A review of the literature Employment While it is recognized that Chinese enterprises hire local people, the focus of the creation debate is more on the position and opportunities for training and advancement.