Shanghai and GuangzhouJune 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe. The principles of mutual respect, open cooperation, and mutual benefit have long been the cornerstone of China-Europe cooperation, building a solid bridge for Chinese manufacturing enterprises to go global. Europe, with its advantages of a high-quality consumer market, abundant labor force, mature industrial chain, and sound legal system, has become an important strategic destination for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. Cushman & Wakefield held the “Unlocking Europe – China’s Manufacturing and Logistics Set Sail Again: European Industrial Investment Summit Forum” in Shanghai and Guangzhou from June 2 to 4.
This forum brought together Cushman & Wakefield’s industrial real estate expert teams from Europe, Asia, and Greater China, including team representatives from the UK, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as local renowned industrial park enterprises. They provided in-depth insights into the features and highlights of European industrial investment, sharing key information on industrial park investments, attracting the attention and participation of numerous corporate representatives.
From left to right: Matthew Bouw, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa; Francis Chiu, CEO of Greater China; Michael Carson, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics Consulting for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Su Zhiyuan, Head and Managing Director of Industrial Property in China
Matthew Bouw, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, attended the Guangzhou forum and delivered a speech, stating: “Leveraging our global service platform, Cushman & Wakefield has brought together leaders from our European logistics and industrial property sectors to China to share the latest market trends and strategic opportunities in Europe. This is the core value of our business. With deep-rooted China-Europe economic and trade cooperation and the continuous release of opportunities in the e-commerce sector, bilateral trade has entered a new stage of development. We are consistently investing in artificial intelligence and building a digital service system, while our local teams possess professional expertise accumulated through deep market knowledge, helping clients make data-driven strategic decisions. We are honored to partner with leading European developers to host this ‘Unlocking Europe’ summit forum and look forward to deepening our collaboration in the future.”
Francis Chiu, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield Greater China, delivered a speech at the forum, stating: “Over the past five years, European enterprises’ investment in China has steadily grown, with countries like the UK, Germany, and Switzerland even achieving double-digit growth. European companies’ deep familiarity with China’s industrial chain will provide strong support for Chinese enterprises to strategically expand into Europe and integrate into local markets. At the same time, Chinese companies are adopting more strategic and long-term planning approaches, placing greater emphasis on operational resilience, diversified regional layouts, and proximity to customer needs. Through this summit, we aim to share market insights and local practical experience, helping enterprises better adapt to Europe’s diverse industrial environment and make more precise strategic decisions.”
Europe continues to attract Chinese enterprises. In 2025, China’s direct investment in Europe reached nearly 17 billion euros, a 67% increase from 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of China’s total global outward direct investment in 2025[1]. For companies planning to establish a presence in Europe, the European logistics and industrial real estate market presents clear advantages. Over the past year, leasing demand has rebounded, with property inventory increasing in most regions since 2022 as developers actively invest in high-standard, efficient properties. Additionally, investor confidence in the European logistics and industrial real estate sector remains strong, with capital flowing into this sector in 2025 leading other asset classes[2].
Michael Carson, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics Consulting for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Cushman & Wakefield, stated: “We have established an excellent industry reputation and professional credentials in core industrial and logistics markets such as Germany, the UK, and Eastern Europe. With our deep industry experience, strong resource network, and top-tier professional tools, we will help enterprises deepen their presence and strategically expand into emerging global markets.”
Su Zhiyuan, Head and Managing Director of Industrial Property in China at Cushman & Wakefield, noted: “Over the past few years, leveraging our global resources and professional service capabilities, we have successfully assisted numerous enterprises in establishing a presence in Europe and helped dozens of foreign companies enter China. Moving forward, we will continue to use our professional advantages to support Chinese manufacturing and logistics enterprises in their global expansion journey, providing efficient and professional on-the-ground services.”
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[1] Rhodium Group |
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[2] Realfin |
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