China: An Innovation-Driven Powerhouse Redefining Global Trade
China has the world's second-largest economy with a projected Gross Domestic Product of
$19.23 trillion in 2025. The Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past four decades, driven by industrialization, technological advancements, global trade dominance, and large-scale urban development. In Q2 2025, the country's economy expanded
by 5.2% year-over-year (yoy), surpassing its forecast, driven by strategic government investment, a robust manufacturing base, and growing domestic consumption. The nation focuses more on innovation-led growth, digital transformation, and sustainable development, which has created abundant opportunities for both domestic and international enterprises.
Manufacturing has long been the backbone of China's economy, accounting for approximately
26% of the country's total GDP. China is continuously upgrading its industrial base under initiatives like "
Made in China 2025", which includes electronics, automotive, advanced machinery, and renewable energy equipment. The country is primarily transitioning towards high-tech, high-value manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on integrating automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to enhance competitiveness.
The renewable energy sector has experienced unprecedented growth, positioning China as a global leader in clean energy production and investment. The country produces the world's highest solar energy, reaching
834 TWh as of 2024, compared to other nations such as the United States, Japan, Germany, and India. China is also rapidly expanding its wind energy and battery storage capacities, as the country has allocated
$940 billion to the renewable energy sector to achieve the ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2060 under its 14th Five-Year Plan.
The infrastructure sector is a cornerstone of China's economic agenda, expected to grow at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of
6.32% from 2025 to 2030, driven by significant investments in transportation, urban development, and public facilities. The country's high-speed rail networks, urban transportation systems, expressways, ports, and airports are continually expanding and modernizing. Initiatives like the
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are extending China's infrastructure influence beyond its
borders. Meanwhile, domestic projects are improving connectivity between urban centers and rural areas.
The Public Procurement system of China operates under a unified but multi-tiered structure, guided by the Government Procurement Law and related administrative regulations. The Ministry of Finance has established overarching policies to implement procurement policies at the central, provincial, and municipal levels through official e-procurement platforms, such as the China Government Procurement Network (CGPN). China's procurement process mainly emphasizes open competition, standardized bidding procedures, and compliance with national priorities, including technology, sustainable development, and industrial upgradation.
Understanding China's Central Government Procurement Process
The Central Government procurement process operates under the Government Procurement Law (GPL), primarily supervised by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). These central procurement framework strategies aim to enhance domestic production capacity, security, and sustainability, while also promoting national economic priorities, industrial development, and innovation.
Central government procurement encompasses a wide range of high-value and strategic contracts with nationwide implications, covering critical sectors such as defense and aerospace, energy and utilities, advanced manufacturing, major infrastructure, and digital transformation projects. Tendering opportunities at the central level require vendors to comply rigorously with Chinese standards, cybersecurity regulations, and specific content ratios, depending on the project's complexity and importance. Hence, international suppliers should partner with Chinese firms or localized operations to compete effectively in the Chinese market.
All the government procurement activities are conducted through
China Government Procurement Network (CGPN) - the country's official e-procurement portal for publishing tenders, submitting bids, and tracking contract awards. International vendors seeking opportunities at the central level must be aware of local content requirements and restrictions on foreign participation in sensitive sectors, such as defense. Sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, smart technologies, and infrastructure present a considerable opportunity for global vendors who can meet compliance obligations and contribute to China's broader development goals.
Top 3 Sectors Offering Tendering Opportunities for China’s Central Government
Below, we've mentioned three major sectors offering tendering opportunities at the national level.
1. Infrastructure
Infrastructure has always remained a cornerstone of China's economic development, supported by initiatives such as the Belt and Road InitiativeInitiative (BRI) and urban modernization projects.
China's central government often issues tenders for large-scale projects, including high-speed railways, expressways, bridges, ports, and government buildings.
Contractors interested in China's
infrastructure tenders must be compliant with Chinese engineering standards, sustainability norms, and demonstrate prior experience in delivering mega projects under strict timelines.
2. Information Technology
China's initiatives, such as Digital China and Smart Government Initiatives, are focused on accelerating its digital economy.
Central government departments and agencies issue
IT tenders for projects like cloud computing, big data platforms, cybersecurity solutions, AI integration, and smart city systems.
Suppliers interested in this sector must comply with cybersecurity regulations, data localization requirements, and, in some cases, partner with domestic technology companies to ensure compliance with Chinese security laws.
3. Energy and Power
Energy security and sustainability are among the top priorities for China. They are investing billions in energy storage systems and smart grids to support the integration of clean energy.
The central government consistently publishes
energy tenders for renewable energy projects, power grid modernization, and nuclear energy development.
To apply for these China tendering opportunities, vendors must strictly adhere to environmental compliance and carbon emission standards that align with China's 2060 carbon neutrality goal.
How does China’s Government Procurement Work?
Here, we've mentioned a clear step-by-step process defining how public procurement works in China. Let's see!
Step 1: Tender Preparation
Tender preparation begins when State authorities, public institutions, or social organizations identify a specific need for acquiring goods, services, and works. Primarily, the budget needs to be passed within China's Centralized Procurement Catalogue Centre (CGPC). Then, the purchaser or project owner will work with CPGPC to develop tendering documentation.
During this phase, procuring authorities outline general information, and the project approval form is clarified. It also defines the specific details regarding the goods and services. In China, a specifically designed process is used to ensure that a preferred vendor is selected.
Step 2: Public Invitation to Tender and Advertisement
Once authorities have completed all preparations regarding the tender and tender documentation, they announce the procurement projects at least seven days before releasing the tendering documents. Tenders may be announced on
http://www.ccgp.gov.cn/.
Procurement is generally conducted in various forms, including publication invitations for tenders, private invitations for tenders, competitive negotiations, single-source procurement, requests for quotations, framework agreement procurement, and others.
According to Article 2 of the Circular of the Ministry of Finance on Issues Concerning the Disclosure of Government Procurement Information (Cai Ku [2015] No 135), the announcement of government procurement projects must be published on the media platforms designated by the Ministry of Finance. The main aim of the advertising tender is to attract more qualified suppliers.
Step 3: Bid Preparation
After the public announcement of tenders, interested vendors must develop and submit their bids for the project. Reading the bid documents provided by GPL can help vendors understand the clear expectations regarding the procurement project.
In general, vendors should submit an executive summary of the bid, product price and volume, business license, Government Procurement Vendor Market Admittance Certifications, product details, and product discrepancy rates.
Step 4: Bid Review and Selection
Once the bidding process is completed, CGPC will assign an Expert Advisory Committee to review the bids received. This advisory committee is composed of industry and technical experts randomly selected from relevant government agencies, industry associations, research institutes, and academia.
This expert advisory service evaluates bids based upon certain criteria, which may be subject to the principle of fairness and compliance. While adopting a tendering procedure, two evaluation methods are generally employed: the lowest quote wins or selection based on a combination of other factors.
One of the most important criteria is to emphasize bids with the lowest quote prices. However, it can not be a foremost decisive factor, as a specialized Tender Evaluation Committee is appointed to set up the most stringent requirements. Thus, if a supplier is selected based on "low quote wins," the winning vendor must either satisfy to the maximum extent the requirements contained in the tender invitation documents or meet all substantial requirements contained in the tender invitation documents.
Step 5: Competitive Negotiations and Award Contracts
A negotiation group is formed with more than three qualified suppliers regarding the procurement project. After negotiations, suppliers submit their respective response documents and final quotations as per the requirements mentioned in the negotiation documents. The concerned procuring entity will make the final selection of qualified bidders based on the recommendations of the negotiation group.
CGPC announced the winning contractor. A "Winning Bid Notification" is sent to the winning bidder, along with the publication of the winning bid in the media. This is the document you'll find on the winning document.
- Purchaser or consigned agent name
- Procurement project name and sum
- Date and place of the procurement project where it was initially announced
Date when the winning bid was selected.
Suppliers must work on the project in accordance with the agreed-upon terms and conditions outlined in the agreement. The procuring agency closely monitors the project to ensure that suppliers comply with all applicable rules and regulations.
Once the supplier delivers the final submission, the agency re-checks everything. The procuring agency releases the final payment once they are satisfied with the project.
Understanding China’s Provincial Government Procurement Process
China's Provincial government procurement process operates under a decentralized structure, providing each province, autonomous region, and municipality significant authority over procurement policies and implementation. It also follows the same Government Procurement Law (GPL) framework. This provincial-level procurement allows each province to conduct procurement based upon its regional economic priorities, including industrial clusters, infrastructure development, and social services tailored to local needs.
Initiatives such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Greater Bay Area Development, and the Western Development Strategy publish the majority of China's tendering opportunities across various sectors, including urban infrastructure, healthcare facilities, education resources, transportation systems, IT services, and renewable energy projects. Although procurement is transparent and competitive, provincial governments often prioritize local supplier participation, sustainability goals, and the adoption of domestic technology, creating opportunities and regulatory challenges for global vendors.
Most procurement notices and related documentation at the provincial level are primarily published on the China Government Procurement Network. Many provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, also have dedicated regional procurement portals that offer detailed project information and compliance requirements. International suppliers must understand local content rules, regional bidding practices, and partnership opportunities with domestic firms, which are essential for success in China's provincial procurement market.
Top 3 Sectors Offering Tendering Opportunities for China’s Provincial Government
Here, we’ve mentioned three major sectors offering tendering opportunities in China’s provincial-level government procurement.
1. Agriculture
Agriculture is the top priority for China's provincial government, mainly to ensure food security and rural revitalization.
Local governments of China typically release
agricultural tenders for modern farming equipment, irrigation systems, agricultural research projects, smart farming technologies, and seed supply programs.
To apply for China local government tenders in this sector, vendors must meet standards for quality control, sustainability, and alignment with China’s green agriculture policies.
2. Tourism
Tourism development is considered one of the main priorities for provinces seeking to boost local economies and cultural heritage.
Provincial governments consistently issue
tenders for tourism projects, including tourist infrastructure, cultural site restoration, hotel development, event management, and smart tourism platforms.
Suppliers interested in tourism sector e-procurement opportunities must remain compliant with environmental protection guidelines, cultural preservation requirements, and digital innovation in the tourism sector.
3. Defense
While defense procurement is primarily centralized, the provisional government often issues defense tender opportunities for public security systems, emergency response infrastructure, surveillance cameras, and local defense support projects.
Vendors interested in the defense sector must stay compliant with cybersecurity regulations, encryption standards, and data protection laws. Additionally, participation may also require a security clearance and adherence to military-civil integration policies, which are promoted under China's defense modernization strategy.
Looking to explore more tenders in different sectors? Tap on the link to explore the China tenders sector-wise:
https://www.tendersontime.com/china-tenders/sectors/
How TendersOnTime Can Help You Win Contracts in China?
Below, we’ve mentioned some of the reasons why TendersOnTime can help you win government contracts in China.
1. Centralized Access to Verified Tender Opportunities
TendersOnTime collects tender opportunities directly from the China Government Procurement Network (CCGP) and provincial-level tendering portals. Thus, you can directly access all the Chinese tenders instead of browsing through dozens of government bidding sites across different provinces.
2. Real-Time Tender Alerts with English Support
China tenders are often released in the Chinese language, making bidding difficult for international vendors. TendersOnTime offers real-time alerts and summaries in both Chinese and English, allowing vendors to understand procurement requirements, eligibility rules, and submission deadlines without struggling with translation or missing key details.
3. Tailored Bidding Intelligence for Key Sectors
China's procurement market is vast, offering numerous high-value tenders across various sectors, including infrastructure, ICT, renewable energy, manufacturing, and more. TendersOnTime offers advanced filters and customized dashboards to enable vendors with sector-specific bidding intelligence, making it easier for them to align tenders with their strengths and improve win rates.
4. Assistance with Compliance and Documentation
TendersOnTime's resources and expert guidance can help vendors stay compliant with formal procedures, including supplier registration on CCGP, use of digital certificates, and adherence to the Government Procurement Law of the PRC. We help prepare accurate documentation, avoid common compliance mistakes, and submit bids that meet all local regulatory requirements.
5. Opportunities for Partnerships and Joint Ventures
International vendors should collaborate with local suppliers and state-owned enterprises to increase their chances of winning tenders in China. TendersOnTime will not only provide you with prime contracting opportunities but also help you identify subcontracting and joint venture possibilities with established Chinese contractors. This enables vendors to make a gradual market entry while building trust and credibility within the competitive Chinese procurement ecosystem.
If you want you gain more insights about China tenders, click on the link:
https://www.tendersontime.com/China-tenders/
Sign in with Google.jpg)