Dear friends from the Press,

Good morning! Welcome to the Press Conferencetoday. Nice to meet you. I am going to make a briefing on China’s commercial performance in January to November of 2013, and answer your questions.

I. Commercial performance in domestic market

In November, consumer market keeps a steady upward trend. Retail sales of consumer goods in November were over 2 trillion Yuan (2,101,200 million Yuan) for the first time, up by 13.7% year-on-year nominally, and 11.8% actually with the price fluctuation excluded, 0.4and 0.6 percentage points higher than that of the previous month respectively. In January-November, retail sales of consumer goods were up by 13% in total.The main features of consumer market in November are as follows:

1. Communication consumption grew by a big margin. According to the statistics of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), driven by the policies of promoting information consumption and “Broad Band China” strategy, sales of communication equipment were accelerated, up by 39.8% year-on-year, 24.6 percentage points higher than that of the same period last year.

2. Sales of household articles and means of transportation picked up obviously.Among the 3000 key enterprises monitored by MOFCOM, the growth rate of sales of household appliances and furniture were respectively 16.2% and 14.6%, 16 and 6.5 percentage points higher than that of the same period of last year. Automobile market was steady and picked up. According to the statistics of China Automotive Industry Association, sales of passenger vehicles grew by 16.08%, 7.3 percentage points higher than that of the same period of last year.

3. Food consumption picked up slightly. Among the 3000 key enterprises monitored by MOFCOM, sales of food was up by 11.2% year-on-year, 0.5 and 1.6 percentage points higher than that of the previous month and previous year respectively. Business in Catering consumption remained at low tide. According to statistics of NBS, the revenue of catering industry in November grew by 9.4%, 0.1 and 4.8 percentage points slower than that of the same period of last month and last year respectively. The midrange and high-end catering consumption continued to decline, and the catering revenue of enterprises beyond limit was down by 1.1% year-on-year, 0.5 percentage points lower over the previous declining rate.

4. Urban consumption grew fast. Urban consumption was up by 13.6%, 0.5 percentage points higher than that of the previous month. Rural consumption remained steady, with a growth rate 1.2 percentage points higher than that of urban consumption.

5. Commodity price overall remained stable. Consumer price in November was up by 3% year-on-year, 0.2 percentage points lower than that of last month. Consumer price in January-November was up by 2.6%, 0.1 percentage points lower than that of the same period of last year. According to monitoring by MOFCOM, in 36 medium and large sized cities, price of agro-foodstuff was steady, of which prices of vegetable, beef, mutton and milk were up in a large margin, up by 32.1%, 17.1% , 13.3% and 8.1% respectively year-on-year. While prices of soy-bean oil and aquatic product were down by 4.4% and 1.6% respectively year-on-year.

II. Foreign Trade

According to Customs statistics, our total import and export in the first eleven months of 2013 were 23.43 trillion Yuan (US$3.77trillion), up by 7.7% year-on-year, exchange rate fluctuation excluded (same as below). Among that, exports amounted to12.44 trillion Yuan (US$2trillion), up by 8.3%; and imports amounted to10.99 trillion Yuan (US$1.77trillion), up by 7.1%. Trade surplus was1.45 trillion Yuan (US$234.15billion) with an increase of 18.3%. In November, the total export went up by 12.7%, with a slight increase. The main features of foreign trade in the first eleven months are as follows:

1. Trade with EU, U.S. and ASEAN maintained good momentum. In January-November, China-EU, China-U.S. and China-ASEAN trade rose by 1.8%, 7.6% and 10.9% respectively; The total volue of China-Japan trade dropped by 6.2% year on year. Trade with Hong Kong increased by 19.8%.

2. Export and import by eastern China steadily grew, and export by middle and western China grew rapidly. In January-November, the total volume of export and import in eastern China, increased by 6.9%, taking up 86.4% of the total volume in the whole country. For export, the growth rates of exports of Hunan, Jiangxi, Henan and Hubei was 26.3%, 18.6%, 17.9% and 17.9% respectively, higher than national growth rate.

3. Growth of conventional trade was steady and processing trade slowed down. In January-November, import and export by conventional trade was US$1.9898 trillion, up by 9.2%, accounting for 52.8% of the total volume of export and import. Among that in November, export by conventional trade was US$ 202.21 billion, hitting US$200 billion for the first time, up by 12.7%. In the same period, import and export by processing trade was US$1.23071 trillion, with an increase of 0.8%, taking up 32.6%.

4. Exports of mechanic and electronic products steadily grew, and exports of labor-intensive products enjoyed good momentum. In January-November, our exports of mechanic and electronic products registered US$1.14789 trillion, up by 7.9%, accounting for 57.3% of China's total exports over the same period. Export of high-tech products was US$599.27 billion, up by 11.1% year on year. Over the same period, Total export of textiles, clothing, bags & suitcases, footwear, toys, furniture and plastic products was US$418.17 billion and rose by 11.1%, 2.8 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate over the same period. In November, total export of seven labor-intensive products increased by 21.6%.

5. Import volume of partial energy and resource products increased while the price decreased. In January-November, the overall price of import products dropped by 0.7% and import volume of partial energy and resource products increased while the price decreased. Among that, import volumes of iron ores was 0.75 billion tons, up by 10.9%; and the average price of import was US$ 129.2, down by 0.7%; import volumes of coal was 0.29 billion tons, up by 15.1%; and the average price of import was US$ 89.2, down by 11.7%; import volumes of crude oil was 0.26 billion tons, up by 3.2%; and the average price of import was US$778.5, down by 4.7%; import volumes of refined oil was 36.21 million tons, up by 1.5%; and the average price of import was US$798.1, down by 4.4%; besides, import of mechanic and electronic products and high-tech product was US$ 764.1 billion and US$ 507.5 billion, up by 7.6% and 11% respectively.

III. Foreign Investment

From January to November, 20,434 foreign-invested enterprises were newly approved, down by 9.19% year on year; realized FDI reached US$105.506 billion, up by 5.48% year on year with a consecutive growth of ten months. In November, realized FDI amounted to US$8.48 billion, up by 2.35% year on year (excluding data of bank, securities and insurance). The main features of foreign investment in January-November are as follows:

1. Utilized FDI in service sector maintained a rapid growth. From January to November, utilized FDI in service sector registered US$ 54.247 billion, up by 14.04% year on year, accounting for 51.4% of the national total. Among that, social security and welfare, electrical machinery repair and culture and arts industry saw a relatively fast growth, up by 368.63%, 295.94% and 164.99% respectively. Utilized FDI in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery amounted to US$1.563 billion, down by 12.01% year-on-year, accounting for 1.48% of the national total. Utilized FDI in manufacturing sector was US$ 41.458 billion, down by 5.71% year-on-year, accounting for 39.3%, of which utilized FDI in crude oil processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing and aquatic product processing grew rapidly, up by 74.64% and 61.98% year on year respectively.

2. FDI by ten countries/regions in Asia, EU and US grew fast. From January to November, utilized FDI from ten countries/regions in Asia (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and ROK) amounted to US$ 91.406 billion, up by 7.45% year-on-year; among that, utilized FDI from Hong Kong reached US$ 69.032 billion, up by 9.92% year-on-year; that from Japan, US$ 6.759 billion, up by 2.29% year-on-year; that from ROK, US$2.916 billion, up by 8.57% year-on-year; that from Thailand, US$482 million, up by 466.04%. Utilized FDI from US amounted to US$ 3.162 billion, up by 8.6% year-on-year, and that from 28 EU countries reached US$ 6.819 billion, up by 17.36% year-on-year; among that, utilized FDI from Germany registered US$2.0 billion, up by 43.74% year-on-year; and that from Netherlands registered US$ 1.199 billion, up by 10.63% year-on-year.

3. Utilized FDI in Central China maintained a fast growth. It was US$ 88.164 billion in January-November, up by 5.17% year-on-year; utilized FDI in Central China was US$ 9.199 billion, up by 9.52% year-on-year; and utilized FDI in Western China was US$ 8.143 billion, up by 4.51% year-on-year. From January to November, utilized FDI in Eastern China, Central China and Western China accounted for 83.8%, 8.7% and 7.5% of the national total respectively. (2013-12-18 10:21:06)

IV. China’s Investment and economic cooperation overseas

Direct investment overseas. From January to November 2013, Chinese investors made direct investment in 4,522 overseas companies in 156 countries and regions, and total direct investment in non-financial sectors (similarly hereinafter) reached US$ 80.24 billion, up by 28.3% year-on-year.

From January to November, Chinese investment in seven economies of Hong Kong, ASEAN, EU, Australia, US, Russia and Japan reached US$57.87 billion, taking up 72% of China’s total overseas direct investments over the same period of time, up by 19% year-on-year. Investment in Hong Kong and Japan fell by 0.6% and 13.3% respectively; while investments in Russia,US, EU and Australiasoared by 685%, 232.2%, 109.3%, 89.9% and 35.3% respectively.

From January to November, Chinese direct investment overseas by enterprises of local governments reached US$ 27.78 billion, up by 25% year-on-year, taking up 34.6% of the national total. Top 3 are Guangdong, Shandong and Jiangsu.

In terms of industrial breakdown, investment covers extensive fields, especially in commercial service industry, mining industry, wholesale and retail industry, construction industry and manufacturing industry. In first 11 months of 2013, investments to commercial service industry, mining industry, wholesale and retail industry, manufacturing industry andconstruction industry reached US$ 27.35 billion, US$ 17.98 billion, US$ 11.52 billion, US$ 7.86 billionand US$ 5.63 billion respectively, accounting for 34.1%, 22.4%, 14.4%, 9.8% and 7% respectively. Investments to other industries including scientific research and technical service industry, culture, sports and entertainment, information transfer service/software and information service industry and real estate industry saw a fast growth。

Contracted projects overseas.From January to November 2013, the turnover of China’scontracted projects overseas amounted to US$ 109.69 billion, up by 7.1% year-on-year, and value of newly-signed contracts was US$ 143.07 billion, up by 11.1% year-on-year. The projects each with a contract value above US$50 million were 538 (499in the same period of 2012), with a total value of US$ 113.78 billion, accounting for 79.5% of the total value of newly-signed contracts. Among that, the projects each with a contract value above US$100 million were 310, 30 more than that of the same period of 2012.

By the end of November 2013, the total contract value of China’s contracted projects overseas reached US$1.1413 trillion with theturnover of US$ 765.3 billion.

Labor service cooperation overseas. In January-November, labor service personnel dispatched overseas reached 435 thousand, an increase of 29 thousand over the same period of 2012. Among that, labor personnel sent abroad for contracted projects were 248 thousand and that for labor cooperation projects were 187 thousand. By the end of November, all labors dispatched overseas were 915 thousand, and labors dispatched overseas for labor service cooperation by the end of November 2013 totaled 6,830 thousand. (2013-12-18 10:24:16)

V. Service Outsourcing

According to statistics by Department of Service Trade and Commercial Services of MOFCOM, In January-November 2013, the contracts on service outsourcing totaled143,856, with the contract value of US$ 83.16 billion, up by 60.6% year-on-year; value of contract executed reached US$ 53.38 billion, up by 37.8% year-on-year. Of which the total value of contracts with clients overseas reached US$ 53.41 billion, up by 47.8%year-on-year; realized value amounted to US$ 37.55 billion, up by 38.3% year-on-year.

Realized value of contracts in KPO grew rapidly. From January to November, the value of contracts in information technology outsourcing(ITO), business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) were US$ 26.68 billion, US$ 8.42 billion and US$ 18.30 billion respectively, up by 41.4%, 34.7% and 66.3% respectively.

Major markets of service outsourcing were US, EU, Hong Kong and Japan. From January to November, the contract value in service outsourcing from US, EU, Hong Kong and Japan were US$ 9.02 billion, US$ 6.00 billion, US$ 4.67 billion and US$ 4.47 billion, accounting for 24.0%, 16.0%, 12.4% and 11.9%respectively in the total contract value.

Jobsin service outsourcing steadily increased. From January to November, newly increased employees in service outsourcing industry reached 816 thousand. By the end of November 2013, enterprises in service outsourcing totaled 24,178, with 5,113 thousand employees, including 3,442 thousand undergraduates and graduates from college, accounting for 67.3% of the total. (2013-12-18 10:26:31)

That's all for the briefing on commercial development of China from January to November. Now I will take your questions.

[Reporter from Economic Information Daily]: I have a question about consumption. We noticed that the total retail sales of consumer goods in November this year increased by 13.7% compared with last year. This growth rate is also the highest monthly growth rate throughout this year. Could you please analyze the reasons for the continuous growth of the total retail sales of consumer goods? Do you think such growth momentum can be maintained in future?

[Shen Danyang]: We have just reported that the total national retail sales of consumer goods in November this year increased by 13.7%, which had maintained a good momentum of sustained and rapid growth since the second half of this year, and such growth rate is also the highest monthly growth rate throughout this year. However, this growth is not accidental. Upon analysis, we have identified the following four main reasons for it:

Firstly, the macro economy tends to be optimistic. Recently, the macro economy tends to be steady and optimistic. A number of economic indicators have been improved, which has provided a strong basis for consumption expansion.

Secondly, the consumer confidence has rebounded. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC adopted a policy of comprehensively deepening reform, releasing reform bonus and enhancing the endogenous motivation of economic development, which is expected to improve the consumption.

Thirdly, the network consumption has played an important role. Driven by the rapid growth of network consumption, traditional retail enterprises have also actively participated in the promotion to promote the overall growth of the market sales.

Fourthly, the information product consumption has been active. After the policy for expanding the information product consumption was put in place, there has been a rise in the sales of smart phones, smart TVs and other information products.

It is expected that the consumer market will maintain such a steady growth in the last month of this year and for a certain period ahead. The total retail sales of consumer goods for this year are expected to grow by more than 13%, and the consumption still tends to be optimistic for the first quarter of next year.

[Reporter from China News Service]: It was reported that according to officials from the European Union, China promised to give up the investigation into the European wine export. However, such investigation is still in progress. Could you please provide some details on such investigation? Some people believed that this is a retaliatory measure taken by the European Union against China for anti-dumping and countervailing of photovoltaic products. What are the comments from the Chinese side in regard to this?

[Shen Danyang]: On July 1 this year, the Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement on initiation aimed to investigate the “anti-dumping and countervailing” of wine imported from the European Union, and such investigation is still in progress. China’s investigating authority will conduct such investigation in strict accordance with China's relevant laws, regulations and procedures.

China is cautious about the implementation of trade remedy measures and has consistently advocated resolving trade conflicts through bilateral dialogue and consultation. For the wine case, China would encourage the Chinese and European industry delegates to negotiate and find a way to resolve the conflict. China is willing to facilitate this process. As far as I know, Chinese and European industry delegates have been contacting with each other, and we hope the two sides could achieve a positive outcome through negotiation.

It is important to emphasize that such wine case is a normal trade remedy investigation requested by Chinese industry delegates and reviewed and found to be in compliance with the case-filing conditions by the Ministry of Commerce according to the law. China has never associated such case with any other trade conflict case against Chinese products and also opposes to interpret such wine case by linking it up with the photovoltaic case.

[Reporter from CCTV Financial Channel]: In November this year, according to customs statistics, China's total import and export value of foreign trade increased by 9.3%, of which the export reached USD 202.2 billion, with the monthly export value exceeding USD 200 billion for the first time, up by 12.7%, which is a new record. What are the specific causes and whether the export will continue in a robust trend in December? At the same time, it is said that, in October, the import growth only accounted for 5.3% of the growth. What are specific causes?

[Shen Danyang]: In November, both export and import, especially the export, increased rapidly. This was resulted from the combination of such factors as policy effect of growth stabilization and structure adjustment for foreign trades in China and the favorable turn of domestic and international economic trends recently, and this was foreseen by the Ministry of Commerce and a number of experts.

With regard to the export, the export increased rapidly in November, which, through our analysis, was caused by three reasons:

Firstly, the economy of developed countries recovered and the effect of Christmas orders was significant. Recently, global economy recovered to some extent. As the Christmas and the New Year are coming, the market demand soared in a short term. It is said that, in October, as a result of the USA government shutdown, part of Christmas and New Year orders of export was prolonged to October, which drove the export growth in November.

Secondly, the policy of import and export promotion continued being effective. The promotion of the State Council for export stabilization and structure adjustment policy was further implemented. As a result, the promotion effect on export development gradually appeared. In November, the export of such commodities as mobile phones and integrated circuits increased by more than 10%. The export growth of traditional intensive products was also fast, with the export of bags, shoes and toys increasing by more than 25% on a year-on-year basis, exports of plastic products and furniture rising by as high as 38.8% and 30.4% on a year-on-year basis respectively, and the year-on-year export growth of textile and apparel reaching 16.5%. People doubt whether there was arbitrage trade or arbitrage export. In the past, arbitrage trade concentrated on some special goods. However, at the view of product structure based on our analysis, the export growth in November had an extensive coverage. At the view of export to other countries, the growth of export to emerging markets in the EU, USA and ASEAN was significant, with the export to the EU increasing by 18.6%, to the USA increasing by 17.7%, to ASEAN increasing by 17.1%, to Russia increasing by 20.7% and to Brazil increasing by 24%. This means that the export growth had an extensive coverage.

Thirdly, the base in the prior year was low. In November 2012, the export was low, with a monthly export amount of USD 179.38 billion, only increasing by 3% compared to November 2011. In November this year, the monthly export amount exceeded USD 200 billion for the first time, hitting a new record high.

As for import, the import growth in November had a slight drop, which was mainly caused by the depressed international commodities and decreased import price. According to the data reported right now, the import prices of such commodities as iron ore, crude oil, refined oil product, natural rubber and billet steel were decreased to different extents.

As the trend of the whole year is concerned, we predicted that the export in December will keep a sound development trend, but we can not be so optimistic. Recently, the investigation by the Ministry of Commerce on over 1,900 key foreign trade enterprises indicated that, in November, the confidence index of enterprise export was 100 that increased by 1.1 percentage points compared to the prior month but suspended around the critical line. This reflected that foreign trade enterprises kept a prudent attitude to the export prospect in the future.

[Reporter from China Electronics News]: I am so concerned on foreign trade of high-tech industries, such as the information industry. As you mentioned the service outsourcing to which the Ministry of Commerce pays much attention. From January to November, the development situation seemed favorable, including the positive effect on the promotion of foreign trade and employment expansion. What measures will the Ministry of Commerce take to improve the industry development? Except for the expansion on quantity, how about the quality improvement, including high-end orientation of service outsourcing and undertaking?

[Shen Danyang]: The Ministry of Commerce held the enlarged meeting of the leading Party group. At this meeting, the working idea for the next year was discussed, including how foreign trades improve comprehensive competitiveness and give play to new comprehensive competitive advantages, and how to further enlarge service trade and others like service outsourcing. As for relevant policies, I suggest you keep an eye on the coming national working meeting of commerce. At this meeting, the Minister, Gao Hucheng will deliver a speech on working report which will provide relevant information. I will not elaborate on it today.

[Reporter from China Securities Journal]: It is said recently that 2014 negative list of Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone is seeking for opinions. The negative list is desired to be contracted, is that true? There is another reporting that the rate of foreign enterprises entering into the Zone is low. What’s the reason?

[Shen Danyang]: As for the first question, whether it is seeking for opinions, this is absolute. To complete the negative list of Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, Shanghai is seeking for opinions from all sectors. Certainly, there are much detailed work to be done to publish 2014 negative list, and the work is required to be combined to the transformation of governmental functions.

As for the second question in relation to that the rate of foreign enterprises entering in the Zone is low. We consider the rate is not low. It may be caused by the more enthusiasm of other domestic enterprises. This gives a misconception that foreign enterprises are not interested in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. As far as we know, foreign enterprises are very interested in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and they are interested in investment. By the end of last month, 58 foreign enterprises were established in it through the service of “one-off acceptance” of the Pilot Free Trade Zone, with a total registered capital of over USD 610 million.

[Reporter from Global Times]: It is reported that the negotiation for Sino-Korea Free Trade Agreement gave raise to intense objection of South Korea farmers who were worried about that the agricultural products of South Korea will loss price advantages after China’s tax-exempted agricultural products enter into South Korea. What's your opinion about this? Second, according to the data report mentioned just now, two investment growths are significant, including Thailand’s investment into China increasing by 466% and China’s investment into Russia increasing by 685%. What are the reasons and backgrounds for such two big figures?

[Shen Danyang]: As for the reasons why Thailand’s investment into China and China’s investment into Russia grew at high speeds, we can only tell upon detailed analysis thereof. Generally, the extreme rapid growth is attributed to one reason that there is an important project or a large project involving much amount of fund. Thailand is under such situation as there is an important project. So it is with our investment into Russia. Particularly, for this year, our investment into the USA also increased rapidly as a result of important projects. Another example, last year, we invested a lot into Canada for a large project (Yonex Project), but the investment this year was relatively low. Currently, we are very interested in investing into foreign countries, so that the investment growth is rapid.

As for the Sino-Korea Free Trade Agreement you mentioned, I have seen relevant reports recently. Industries of the two countries are not necessary to worry about relevant negative effects of China and South Korea Free Trade Area too much, I believe. There are probably several reasons: First, before negotiating for China and South Korea Free Trade Zone, the two countries' relevant agencies have made long-term researches, and they concluded that the Free Trade Zone will be, generally, beneficial to both countries’ industries. Although there will be a short term for adaptation process, for a long term, this will absolutely be mutually beneficial. Second, the construction purpose of any free trade zone is to provide reasonable protection to the extent of mutual permit, rather than to destroy some industries of the two countries. Both parties believe that the industries of the two countries will be developed significantly and firmly under the general framework of the Free Trade Zone. As a result, China and South Korea began to negotiate for the Free Trade Zone which goes smoothly now. Third, the agricultural products in South Korea have its own unique advantages which may not be replaced with China’s products. As far as I know, after the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement took effect, South Korea imported much beef from the U.S. However, the price of the domestic beef was still at a high level, and became the symbol of status and taste. This fully shows that the difference of consumption market can completely set off the competition effect. Moreover, in the current domestic market in China, processed food from South Korea is increasing, with growing categories. As soon as the Free Trade Zone is constructed, the process line that South Korea imports agriculture products from China and processed them and sold back to China will be formed. Such trade growth will also be beneficial to both countries.

[Reporter from CBN TV]: The Minister Gao Hucheng has put forward excellent working thoughts with respect to the consumption promotion through circulation, and I wonder what specific measures the Ministry of Commerce would take next?

[Shen Danyang]: The relevant issues on the consumption promotion of circulation to be expanded by the Ministry of Commerce have been discussed by the Minister Gao Hucheng and at some special news conferences. We need to do a lot of work next, especially the following 5 aspects:

Firstly, we should increase circulation efficiency and promote convenient and economic consumptions. We should support and retrofit commonweal circulation infrastructures, support the organic bond among marketing networks, logistics networks and payment networks to be promoted by information technology, introduce networking retail supervision regulations, promote the update of traditional retail industries and promote the profound integration between online and offline markets.

Secondly, we should promote the development of living service industries and provide better service consumption products. Actually, as for the expansion of consumption, now plenty of the consumption is service consumption in which exists huge potential. Therefore, the Ministry of Commerce intends to construct the promotion system of basic living service industries and expand the service consumption of family, communities and villages from the aspects of total supply, structural configuration, service mark, model innovation, honest management, etc. For example, we shall promote the construction of commonweal housekeeping service platform. A service platform in Ningbo City called “81890” belongs to a commonweal housekeeping service platform. We shall popularize this kind of service platform. We shall also promote the construction of community life consumption service networks and forge 15-minute consumption circles for the convenient of the people; we shall also develop the basic living service networks of towns and villages based on the “Thousands of Villages and Townships” project.

Thirdly, we should standardize market order and promote safe consumption. We intend to purify consumption environment by promoting circulation legislations, completing circulation standardization system, enhancing the construction of credit system, breaking down regional blockades and trade monopoly and fighting and solving some obvious contradictions and problems such as commercial fraud of infringement counterfeit, commercial bribe and relationship between retailers and suppliers to provide the people with a more reliable consumption environment.

Fourthly, we should strengthen information guidance and promote emerging and hotspot consumption. We should integrate and construct a public information service platform which is based on governmental monitoring data and takes social data as supplements. This kind of service platform will cover domestic and foreign markets. We should promote the development of new type of commercial activities such as factory stores and outlets, increase supply and promote the backflow of brand consumption. We should continue to develop credit consumption and support local governments to introduce the encouragement policies towards credit consumption.

Fifthly, we should give full play to the guiding role of policy and public opinion and promote green and circular consumption. We intend to develop used-car and flea markets by developing green circulation, cultivating green markets and accelerating the elimination of yellow label cars and old cars. Popularize green purchasing, promote the construction of green supply chains and guide and circulate enterprises’ expansion of the marketing of energy saving products.

[Reporter from China Daily]: We have noticed that some documents of the Central Economic Working Conference highlighted the reinforcement of the macro-guidance of “Going Global” strategy, including some simplification of external investment approval, and will the Ministry of Commerce take some actions in this respect?

[Shen Danyang]: There are mainly two aspects: it is required, on the one hand, to strengthen the "going global" macro guidance and services; on the other hand, to simplify the procedures of examination and approval of external investment. For the first aspect, what we are doing or what we are going to do mainly include five aspects: The first is to improve the national industry direction and develop the Industry Guidance of External Investment by Country. The second is to update and release the Guidance for External Investment Cooperation by Country (Region), Chinese External Investment Cooperation and Development Report, Trade and Investment Environment Report by Country, etc., provide enterprises with public information service, and guide enterprises to evade risks. The third is to perfect the external investment cooperation information service system and improve the level of comprehensive information service. The fourth is to strengthen the training of multinational operation and management talents and help enterprises improve the level of transnational operation. The fifth is to strengthen international multilateral consultations and cooperation, sign trade and investment cooperation agreement between the governments (including the Sino-US investment agreement and Sino-EU investment agreements under negotiation), and complete the promotion and security mechanism supporting enterprises to “go global”.

As for the simplification of examination and approval procedures for external investment, we will be oriented by market and center on the promotion of facilitation to minimize the approval scope and implement management dominated by filing system under the requirements of changing governmental functions, by which, to actively expand enterprise and private external investment.

[Reporter from China National Radio]: In September this year, President Xi Jinping visited Central Asia and proposed that China and Central Asian countries should develop the economic belt of Silk Road; besides, issues related to the economic belt of the Silk Road and the construction of Marine Silk Road were also put forward in the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, so may I ask what’s the opinions of the Ministry of Commerce with respect to this and what are the next detailed steps?

[Shen Danyang]: The two strategic visions-promoting the construction of the economic belt of the Silk Road and Marine Silk Road are aimed to forge a new dynamic economic belt available for policy communication, road connection, trade smoothness, currency circulation and public support from the strategic perspectives of keeping close economic relation between Eurasian countries, promoting regional economic cooperation, driving regional economic development and constructing harmonious and prosperous areas; they are great undertaking and new initiative deepening regional economic integration and benefiting the people along the Road, and are in line with the common interests of China, Central Asia as well as surrounding countries and regions.

I want to take advantage of this chance to report some relevant data to you. Accurate statistical data of these countries from January to October of this year are still unavailable and what we have at hand are the data of the last year.

In 2012, the total trade volume between China and all countries on the “economic belt of the Silk Road” were up to USD 549.5 billion, taking up 14.2% of the foreign trade volume of China; non-financial direct investment from Chinese enterprises into countries along the Road amounted to USD 3.5 billion, taking up 4.5% of the total external investment amount of China; the turnover of projects contracted in countries along the Road by Chinese enterprises was USD 35.08 billion, taking up 45.4% of the total turnover of oversea contracted projects nationwide. Here are concentrated most of the contracted projects. The total trade volume between China and all countries along the “Marine Silk Road” were up to more than USD 690 billion, taking up 17.9% of the foreign trade volume; non-financial direct investment from Chinese enterprises into countries along the Road amounted to USD 5.7 billion, taking up 7.4% of the total external investment amount of China; the turnover of projects contracted in countries along the Road by Chinese enterprises was USD 44.2 billion, taking up 37.9% of the total turnover of oversea contracted projects nationwide. This year, the economic and trade cooperation between China and countries along the economic belt of the Silk Road and Marine Silk Road again has achieved new considerable development.

In order to promote the construction of the economic belt of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road, the Ministry of Commerce recently will focus on two aspects: One is to consolidate and actively develop the economic cooperation with all existing relevant countries so as to lay a good foundation for the construction of the economic belt of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road. For example, we will strengthen policy coordination with countries along the Road, further enhance the level of trade facilitation and freedom, properly utilize the regional cooperation platform-free trade zone, accelerate the construction of free trade zone for regions along the Road, and in particular, strive to build up an updated China-ASEAN free trade zone. We will support the establishment of overseas economic and trade cooperation zone in qualified countries to encourage domestic enterprises to carry out investment cooperation in countries along the Road. The other aspect is that we will put forward and implement detailed cooperation measures for the construction of the economic belt of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road through joint study with relevant countries.

[Reporter from Phoenix TV]: The data presented just now show that the bilateral trade between China and Japan is declining, so is the investment from China into Japan. Therefore, we want to know what the relation between the declining of bilateral trade between China and Japan and the overall situation in this year when China and Japan also show subtle relationship?

[Shen Danyang]: I think the declining should be attributed to two reasons, one of which is as everyone knows and I will just skip it, and the other one is about the market; of course, the market will also be affected by the first reason. China still hopes for continuous steady development of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation, but things may not always go as you will.

[Shen Danyang]: Well, that's the end of the Press Conference, thank you all!

Translated by Hu xiaoying