This paper uses Chinese firm-level data from 2001 to 2007 and applies a propensity score matching method combined with a difference-in-differences approach to examine the direct causal link between inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and various aspects of Chinese firms’ performance. We divide China into four economic regions and subdivide the origin of foreign investment into HMT investment (within the Greater China Area) and other foreign investment (outside the Greater China Area). The results indicate that the progress of the IFDI mark...