China's SAFE Expects Goods and Services Trade Growth Despite External Challenges

China's foreign exchange regulator said on September 29, 2026, it expects the country's trade in goods and services to keep growing and cross-border investment to remain active, despite complex external conditions. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said in its first-half Balance of Payments report that goods trade growth will be driven by artificial intelligence and green technology products. Services trade is also expected to rise, with China promoting exports of technology and digital services while anticipating higher service imports. SAFE said foreign investment into China should improve as global capital diversifies into yuan-denominated assets. The regulator plans new policies to facilitate trade and expand foreign access to domestic financial markets, promote two-way opening and yuan internationalization, and build a "more convenient, more open, safer, and smarter" foreign exchange management system. Authorities will also step up monitoring of cross-border capital flows and use artificial intelligence to crack down on illegal foreign exchange activities.