Regional Niche and Spatial Distribution of Foreign Investment in China from 2012 to 2021

Abstract

Strategic positioning is the core issue of strategic management, and regional niche is the core of strategic positioning. Regional niche has important implications in sustainability transition. In this study, the regional niche and spatial distribution of foreign investment in 31 provinces of China from 2012 to 2021 are explored regarding sustainability transition. The results show that: (1) Low fierce competition is important for foreign-investment resources in sustainability transition in general. (2) The gradient of niche-evolution momentum is considerable in sustainability transformation. (3) The spatial echelon distribution of foreign investment is obvious in sustainability transition with a positive spatial-geography correlation. Therefore, in view of the overall space–time development and political layout of foreign investment in emerging industrialized countries such as China in the future, this study has important practical significance. It proposes countermeasures for policy-makers and managers to promote the expansion, evolution, and coordination of foreign investment in regional resources. The conclusion is helpful for China and other emerging industrial countries to successfully realize the space–time layout of regional niche, through foreign investment, and improve their open capabilities of global sustainable development.