BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's ranking in the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index has climbed two spots to fourth place globally, according to a recent report.

The index, released by global management consulting firm Kearney, measures investor expectations for FDI.

He Xiaoqing, president of Kearney Greater China, attributed China's improved ranking to its leading position in artificial intelligence and its vast domestic market size, which continue to form strong attractions for foreign investment.

Chinese manufacturing enterprises have seen rising price competitiveness in high-value-added sectors such as specialized machinery and technology-related products, as well as in niche industries including green technology and biomedical equipment, He said.

He also noted that China's catalogue of industries encouraging foreign investment, released last year, reflects the country's firm policy direction to continue attracting global investment in key areas such as manufacturing upgrading and green development.

The index, based on an annual survey of global business executives, analyzes the most attractive destinations for FDI over the next three years.

In the 2026 ranking, the United States remained first, followed by Canada and Japan.

Despite rising uncertainties, 88 percent of respondents plan to expand their FDI in the next three years, indicating sustained confidence in long-term global opportunities. ■