Slight decline in M&A activity is likely

Editor's note: This is the seventh story in a series of previews on the two sessions - the annual gatherings of the nation's top legislature and its top body of political advisers. The sessions will start later this week.

China's outbound mergers and acquisitions are likely to decline slightly this year, due to the changing global environment, experts said.

Chinese companies' interest in going overseas or acquiring companies outside of China is still very high, but the overall number and value of deals will be reduced, due to Western countries' changing attitudes toward Chinese investment, said Edward Tse, founder and CEO of Gao Feng Advisory Co, a global strategy and management consultant.