From January to September this year, the size of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, although decreasing year-on-year, was still at a relatively high level compared to the past decade. In particular, the rapid growth of newly established FIEs proves the ongoing enthusiasm of foreign investors in China and reaffirms our confidence in sound FDI attraction in the long run.

At the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping announced that China would remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, and further advance high-standard opening-up in cross-border service trade and investment in light of international high-standard economic and trade rules. His remarks chart the course for China’s opening-up and foreign investment utilization. MOFCOM will focus on the following five aspects:

First, expanding foreign investment access. We will work to shorten the foreign investment negative list to a reasonable extent, remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, and expand foreign investment access in modern services. We will do our best to remove hidden barriers and ensure equal access for domestic and foreign investment to areas outside the negative list.

Second, stepping up supporting policies. We will work with relevant authorities and local governments to implement the State Council’s 24-point measures on stabilizing foreign investment, enhance policy promotion, interpretation and training, and continue to roll out implementing rules, to ensure effective enforcement and increase the sense of fulfillment of FIEs.

Third, building “Invest in China” into a shining brand. We will instruct and help local governments in their FDI promotion work. During the sixth CIIE, we will hold an “Invest in China Year” summit, increase investment opportunity and policy promotion, and facilitate business and project matchmaking.

Fourth, building open platforms. We will deepen the national integrated demonstration zone for greater openness in the services sector, move faster to build an opening-up system in the services sector that is aligned with high-standard international trade and economic rules. We will press ahead with innovation and upgrading of national economic and technological development zones and build them into main platforms for stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment.

Fifth, improving services for FIEs. We will make good use of the special task force for key foreign-invested projects, roundtables for FIEs and the system for collecting and handling FIEs’ issues and requests, as channels to deepen regular exchanges with FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce, find ways to solve their problems, and let FIEs come, stay and flourish. Thank you.