Despite the slowdown of China's economy, there are opportunities for foreign investment in the Chinese mainland, a partner with a China-based investment-management group said on Friday.

"Though China's macro performance continues to deliver disappointing numbers, investors have started realizing they can identify some investment opportunities - even in the slowdown," said Joseph Zeng, a partner at Greenwoods Asset Management, an investment firm that specializes in companies located in the mainland. "The biggest challenge to the Chinese economy is actually the slowdown or deceleration of China's GDP growth."

"The current Chinese government has a strong view against corruption and they're more pro-reform," he said.

Zeng made his comments in a keynote address at Columbia University during the school's 8th annual China Business Conference. Columbia's Greater China Society (GCS) hosted the event with the Columbia Business School. This year's program was entitled The Global Impact of China's Rising Power.

Panelists and guest speakers discussed a number of pressing issues about China's domestic and international business environment, including opportunities and challenges to Chinese investment, an outlook on cross-border trends and stories of Chinese entrepreneurship at home and abroad.

Michael Malone, associate dean of the Columbia Business School, said in his welcoming remarks that "there's arguably no other geography on the planet that has as much active development across such a range of industries". "Being part of these conversations leads us to a greater understanding of what China is and will be in the future," he said.

GCS is a student-led club within Columbia's Business School and its mission is to promote a cultural and professional community for students interested in the Greater China region. The annual event is the largest student-run China business conference on the East Coast, according to the group's website.

jackfreifelder@chinadailyusa.com