Since the pandemic broke out, the Chinese government has upheld the belief that the people come first, and life matters most. It has adjusted response measures in accordance with the changing situations and effectively coordinated both disease containment and economic and social development. In this process, MOFCOM has followed closely the business operations of FIEs in China. Fully using the special task force for key foreign-invested projects under the coordinating mechanism for foreign trade and foreign investment, MOFCOM has maintained targeted, regular exchanges with FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce to address problems and difficulties FIEs encounter due to the pandemic and support their business activities as much as possible.

Recently, the special task-force has carried out one-on-one surveys on related foreign-invested enterprises and multiple foreign chambers of commerce on the 20-point rules, the new 10-point rules and the downgrade to Category B response, among other Covid measures. China’s proactive optimization and adjustment of Covid response measures are broadly well-received by FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce, which laud the measures as ‘very timely and encouraging’, ‘an effective solution to the travel of foreign employees to China’, and ‘reassuring for their future development in China’. Many of them indicate they are planning executive trips to China to actively reboot related projects and seek new investment opportunities.

For the next steps, we will continue to expand market access for foreign investors, enforce national treatment for FIEs, step up protection for their legitimate rights and interests, and further facilitate their investment in China, in a bid to create a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment for all to share in China’s development opportunities. Thank you.