Sheridan Admans, investment adviser at The Share Centre, explains how investors looking to achieve a long-term return through exposure to China, could benefit from the Gartmore China Opportunities fund.

Over the last decade China has become a prominent market in the world economy. It has become more open to overseas investment, freer with its media and adopted a more capitalist market system in what is still a communist country.

The strength of China's ability to grow can be demonstrated by the projection of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Last Wednesday it revised upwards its forecast for China's 2011 economic growth to 9.9 per cent, just three months after it had forecast 9.7 per cent growth.

The Gartmore China Opportunities fund is an ideal way of investing within this region. Fund manager, Charlie Awdry, visits the region at least three times a year to review his investments. He uses his visits to meet prospective companies for inclusion in the 70 stock strong fund and these meetings are a key element in his decision making process.

The Gartmore China Opportunities fund aims to achieve a long-term return in excess of what is typically achieved through investing in Hong Kong and Chinese equity markets. As such, the fund is ideal for investors willing to take a higher level of risk.

In terms of performance, the fund returned 51.70 per cent over a three-year cumulative period and 193.82 per cent over a five-year cumulative period. Year-to-date the fund has returned 6.27 per cent, ranking first quartile in its sector in all three of these periods.

The Gartmore China Opportunities fund has an annual charge of 1.5 per cent and an initial charge of 5 per cent. The minimum initial investment is £1,000 and the minimum additional investment is £250.

As the fund features in The Share Centre's Platinum 120 range, customers of the retail stockbroker wishing to invest in the Gartmore China Opportunities fund will not have to pay the initial charge or purchase dealing commission. Customers can also invest in the fund from as little as £10.