Following the instructions of the State Council, in July 2023, MOFCOM set up the FIE round table meeting system under the foreign trade and foreign investment coordination service mechanism, with the aim to strengthen regular communication with FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce and help them resolve difficulties.

Last year, MOFCOM held 15 round table meetings with the participation by more than 400 FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce. We have adopted a “one company, one policy” approach to addressing FIEs’ individual problems, and collaborated with line ministries to put forward targeted policy measures to tackle the common issues of the industries. We have worked to solve over 300 problems raised by FIEs at the round table meetings so far. Apart from that, in September 2023, MOFCOM launched the online system for the collection and handling of FIEs’ requests, which serves as the “online FIE round table meeting” to expand the public channels for FIEs, especially SMEs to express their concerns. According to those FIEs, at the round table meetings, the government could respond directly to their problems, hence firming up their confidence in making long-term investment in China with the impression that China’s business environment is constantly improving.

On January 12, Minister Wang Wentao chaired a round table with Belgian enterprises, which was the first FIE round table in 2024. Moving forward, MOFCOM will keep working with line ministries and local governments to make the most of the round table meetings by carefully choosing topics and holding meetings once a month. We will focus our topics in such areas as promoting multilateral and bilateral commercial exchanges, supporting the implementation of major foreign projects, improving the business environment and pushing forward significant regional strategies. We look forward to active participation by FIEs and foreign chambers of commerce in China. Thank you.