Open to goods, closed to immigration?

Over the past few decades, China has undergone a remarkable process of opening. From a Western perspective, it is striking that despite its extraordinary economic rise, its steady integration into global trade networks, and one of the world’s largest diaspora communities – China has remained comparatively closed to immigration. In public debate, immigration has hardly been considered as an economic or competitive factor. The share of foreign residents is tiny; even in Shanghai, arguably China’s most international metropolis, it remains below one percent.

As China undergoes profound demographic, economic, and socio‑political shifts, the world’s second‑largest economy is coming under increasing pressure. Provinces and cities are responding by developing master plans to attract foreign skilled workers and labour. How far these efforts will go – and whether they will actually succeed in attracting talent – remains uncertain. Political measures to attract international skilled workers, such as the K visa introduced in October 2025, caused strong resistance in Chinese society. Further opening up would pose major socio-political challenges for the Chinese model.

Germany and Europe have good reason to follow these developments closely. For Europe, China could emerge as a new competitor in the global race for top talent and skilled workers – with potential consequences for Germany as a centre of business and innovation.

Read the entire paper ‘Für Waren offen, für Zuwanderung verschlossen?’ here as a PDF. Please note, to date the analysis is only available in German.