International development by Chinese enterprises: Key issues for the future

Chinese state-owned companies are beginning to be players on the world stag e. Within a developed country, such as the UK, however, the majority of inv estments are at present small-scale operations in trading and financial ser vices. There are signs of the larger, longer-established enterprises evolvi ng, as planned, towards transnational conglomerates, albeit hampered by sta te ownership. While not yet major competitors, Chinese enterprises offer op portunities as suppliers to and partners with UK companies; foreign direct investment in manufacturing industry in the UK is still some way off. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.