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A full-page advertisement for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold series appears in the Aug. 7 edition of People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China. /Courtesy of People's Daily website

People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, has highlighted Samsung's growing investment and advanced technology cooperation in China, describing the South Korean conglomerate as "a partner deeply integrated into China's industrial supply chain."

The coverage is notable because, amid the ongoing technological rivalry between the United States and China, a Chinese state-run newspaper has presented a leading South Korean company as an example of the country's efforts to expand economic opening-up and attract foreign investment.

In an article titled "Becoming a Partner Deeply Integrated into China's Industrial Supply Chain," published on page six of its Sunday edition, People's Daily reported that Samsung had participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for nine consecutive years, establishing itself as a company growing alongside the Chinese market.

The newspaper said Samsung's cumulative investment in China had reached approximately $59 billion (about 80 trillion won), with advanced industries accounting for 90% of the total.

It also highlighted Samsung's extensive local operations, including 15 manufacturing companies and 14 research and development (R&D) centers, describing them as an integrated business structure spanning production and technological development.

Among the company's recent investments, People's Daily cited a biopharmaceutical R&D center established in Beijing this year and an advanced medical equipment production line set up in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Samsung also opened its first advanced manufacturing technology research institute outside South Korea in Suzhou.

The newspaper devoted considerable attention to the technologies and products showcased at this year's expo.

It noted that Samsung's exhibition had shifted its focus from finished consumer products to foundational technologies, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the company's broader innovation capabilities.

At the ninth CIIE, which opened in Shanghai on Nov. 5, Samsung unveiled low-power double data rate (LPDDR) memory capable of performing computations within the memory itself, the next-generation Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 5.0 standard, and AI-powered medical ultrasound diagnostic equipment.

"In the past, we mainly introduced cutting-edge products to China from around the world. Now, we hope to integrate R&D, manufacturing and innovation into China and grow together with the Chinese market," Zhang Daijun, executive vice president of Samsung China, told People's Daily. 

People's Daily presented Samsung's business strategy as an example of how multinational companies are expanding their presence in China beyond product sales to encompass local R&D, manufacturing and supply chain development.

The report emphasized Samsung's position not merely as a supplier of products to the Chinese market, but as a participant in the country's industrial ecosystem.

The coverage also appears to reflect China's policy objective of attracting more foreign investment into advanced industries.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's high-tech industries reached 228.53 billion yuan (approximately 46 trillion won) from January through September this year, up 33.8% from the same period last year. The sector accounted for 41.6% of China's total FDI inflows. 

"By participating in the CIIE for nine consecutive years, Samsung has continued to introduce new products tailored to the Chinese market, becoming a partner deeply integrated into China's industrial supply chain and bringing the benefits of local innovation to the global market," People's Daily said.

"As China continues to open its doors wider, multinational companies such as Samsung will be presented with even greater opportunities for growth," the newspaper added.

                                                                                                          Cheon Hyun-bin