Tang Jun: Dear friends from the press, good afternoon. I come from the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce, and I will hold the news conference in this afternoon. Welcome to the news conference to be held on this afternoon. The 19th China International Fair for Investment & Trade (the “CIFIT”) organized by the Ministry of Commerce and co-sponsored by the People's Government of Fujian Province, Xiamen Municipal Government and the Foreign Investment Promotion Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce will be held from September 8 to 11 in Xiamen, Fujian. Relevant information will be introduced to you at today’s news conference. We are glad to have Mr. Wang Shouwen, the Executive Deputy Director of the Organizing Committee and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Liang Jianyong, the Deputy Director and Secretary-general of the Organizing Committee and Vice Governor of Fujian Province, and Mrs. Ni Chao, the Minister of the Conference Service Department of the Organizing Committee and Vice Mayor of Xiamen Municipal Government with us. Let's welcome the Vice Minister Wang Shouwen to introduce the tendency of foreign capital attraction and foreign investment cooperation and the major characteristics of the 19th CIFIT.

Wang Shouwen: Dear friends from the press, good afternoon!

At the very beginning, I would like to extend the warmest welcome to all the friends presenting at today's news conference, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and the Organizing Committee of CIFIT.

Currently, the CIFIT, approved by the State Council in 1997 and hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, is the only large international exhibition aiming at promoting bilateral investment in China. It not only attracts foreign investments but also promotes external investments. In recent years, each CIFIT has attracted the merchants from over 100 countries and regions, over 10,000 foreign merchants, more than 40,000 domestic merchants, above 300 domestic and foreign media. Every CIFIT will be reported by over 1,500 journalists by more than 10,000 pieces of news report, which makes great contribution to the influence and popularity of the CIFIT. Here, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the friends from the press on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and the Organizing Committee.

As we all know, this year is the first year of China's "13th Five-year-plan", as well as the important period of strategic opportunities of deepening the reform and opening-up. Under such circumstances, I'd like to make a brief introduction about the basic situations of current "bringing in" and "going out" and the main characteristics of this CIFIT.

Firstly, foreign capital intake. As at the end of July 2016, there were totally 850,000 foreign companies established in China, with actually used foreign capital of USD 1.7 trillion, ranking the first among developing countries for 24 consecutive years. This year, in face of complicated environment both at home and abroad, the Chinese government further simplifies administrative procedures, delegate powers to lower levels, broaden opening level and positively promote all reform measures. From January to July of 2016, there were about 16,000 foreign companies newly established with actually used foreign capital of USD77.13 billion. Further optimization of the foreign capital intake structure embodies in the fast growth of foreign capital in the service industry, especially the growth of foreign capital use in the high-tech service industry amounted to 98.2%. The investments in China by the EU and US achieved significant recovery growth, respectively increasing by 35.6% and 129.8%. The growth of foreign capital use in the western regions of China increased by 31%. In addition, the means of using foreign capital become increasingly diverse, and the foreign capital intake by mergers and reorganization accounts for over 20%.

One survey of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ("UNCTAD") indicates that China is still one of the most promising destinations for foreign investment in the coming three year, and the surveys made by the American Chamber of Commerce in China which consists of the American enterprises investing in China, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China which consists of European enterprises and the Japan-China Investment Promotion Organization show that, most interviewed enterprises hold a positive attitude towards Chinese market. President Xi Jinping repeatedly points out, Chinese foreign capital intake will continue to persist in "three non-changes", namely, unchanged Chinese policies on foreign capital use, unchanged protection of the legitimate rights and interests of investment enterprises and unchanged direction of providing better service for the investment and development of foreign enterprises in China. Premier Li Keqiang also stressed that China would always be the attractive hotbed of foreign investment. In the future, the Chinese government will speed up the construction of a new open economic system, promote further expansion of the opening up in all fields, largely reduce the restrictive measures for foreign capital and continuously improve the investment environment.

Secondly, I will briefly introduce the basic situations of China's foreign investment. From January to July 2016, domestic investors made non-financial direct investments in 156 countries and regions, equivalent to USD102.7 billion, and the investment growth rate exceeded 60%. The foreign investment presents the following characteristics: firstly, fast and sustainable growth of foreign investment, and gradually stable growth rate. Secondly, the investment area is relatively concentrated, and the investment in developed countries and regions increases quickly. Currently, the investment in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ("SEAN"), EU, Australia, US, Russia, Japan and Hong Kong occupies 73% of the total investment from January to July, by this taken, China's foreign investment is relatively concentrated. Thirdly, merger becomes the major method of foreign direct investment, and the investment made via merger accounts for over 50% of total foreign investment. Fourthly, foreign investment is extended to the countries along "the Belt and Road" with stable growth and tremendous potential.

Thirdly, I'd like to introduce the major characteristics of the 19th CIFIT. The 19th China International Fair for Investment and Trade will continue to persist in the positioning by "Three Platforms and Three Orientations". The so-called "Three Platforms" refers to the CIFIT will organized as the platforms of promoting bilateral investment, releasing policies and information and discussing investment trends. The "Three Orientations" means to strive to enhance the level of specialization, internationalization and marketization. The 19th CIFIT has the following characteristics: firstly, a series of activities including planning the international investment forum will be conducted around the construction of a new open economic system. The Several Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Building a New Open Economic System promulgated in May 2015, proposed the overall objectives and specific requirements of innovating the management mechanism for foreign investment and facilitating the strategy of "Going out". Under such background, the Ministry of Commerce and the China Central Television ("CCTV") will hold the 2016 International Investment Forum on "New Concept•New Development, Construction of New Pattern under Open Economy" during the 19th CIFIT. The representatives of government departments, economists and representatives of domestic and foreign enterprises from relevant countries and regions will extend discussions on this topic and share their experiences, understanding and suggestions about the development of open economy. Secondly, the symposium of multinational companies will be held around the topic of further improving the investment environment. In this CIFIT, we have invited 50 representatives from more than 50 multinational companies and chambers of commerce and comrades from related ministries and commissions to the symposium for listening to the comments, suggestions and specific opinions on Chinese investment environment from multinational countries. Thirdly, it focuses on bilateral investment, persists in the orientation of merchants demand, and endeavors to improve the effectiveness of activities. This conference has designed "Online CIFIT", established channels of effective communication among investors, government authorities and intermediary services, organized over 150 targeted business negotiations in accordance with the new working ideas of "Precise docking and detailed negotiations", and launched more than 100 customized docking activities with the combination of exhibitions and the CIFIT for member units. Specific introduction meetings will be held in Australia, Zimbabwe, Italy and other countries. As the sponsor, the Ministry of Commerce will hold 12 specific events during the period of the 19th CIFIT, including the Symposium on International Capacity Cooperation, Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation and Development Forum, China Financial Leasing Development Forum, Sino-America Enterprise Cooperation Forum, and the Press Conference on the Development Report on Chinese Foreign Investment (2016). Fourthly, the 19th CIFIT will insist on the strict implementation of the spirit of the Eight Rules of Political Bureau of the Central Committee and conform to the principle of pragmatism, efficiency and prudence to hold conferences. Practical policies and affairs concerning the number of activities, exhibition costs, reception standards, working costs, etc. will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Eight Rules. We will be very careful in reckoning, diligent and thrift, and practically create a more professional investment and trade fair.Ladies and gentlemen, I sincerely hope the friends from the press will always focus on and publicize the CIFIT, which may make the world be familiar with the CIFIT and provide the foreign merchants institutions with much information on the CIFIT; at the same time, I wish all the merchants and investors may find the "gold key" to win-win cooperation, make friends, explore commercial opportunities and seek co-development in this CIFIT. Thanks a lot!

Tang Jun: Thanks for the introduction by Vice Minister Wang Shouwen. Next, let's welcome the Vice Governor Liang Jianyong to introduce the preparation of the 19th CIFIT.

Liang Jianyong: Ladies and gentlemen, and dear friends from the press, good afternoon! It is such an honor to attend today's news conference. First of all, I'd like to express heartfelt thanks, on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the CIFIT and Fujian Provincial People' Government, to the friends long caring and supporting the CIFIT, especially the friends from the press presenting today's news conference. I wish to take this opportunity of being entrusted by the Organizing Committee to briefly introduce the preparation progress of the 19th CIFIT.

With the support and positive participation of all the friends both at home and abroad, the 19th CIFIT hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and co-sponsored by the UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Financial Company of the World Bank, the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (the "WAIPA") and other international organizations will be open ceremoniously in Xiamen, Fujian on September 8. At present, the overall preparatory work has entered the sprint stage, mainly presenting five highlights:

I. Integrate into National Strategies and Highlight "the Belt and Road"

The 19th CIFIT sticks to the theme of "Focusing on 'the Belt and Road' and promoting bilateral investment", and positively plans and holds a range of activities. Firstly, to construct special display of the New Silk Road, highlighting the investment opportunities, key projects and featured products of the countries (regions) along "the Belt and Road"; Secondly, to hold the first "Silk Road Dialogue - Construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and Symposium on International Capacity Cooperation"; the activity is co-sponsored by the Think Tank Union of "the Belt and Road" and the CIFIT Organizing Committee on the subject of "the construction of Maritime Silk Road: mutual reference, linkage and win-win", and discussions will be extended around the three topics of "the construction of the Maritime Silk Road", "Industry Cooperation" and "Cultural Exchanges"; Thirdly, a series of high-end business activities including the "Exchange on the Development of New Silk Road “and "Symposium on the Belt and Road" will be held, focusing on inviting the merchants from the countries (regions) along "the Belt and Road" to participate in the meeting to co-construct and share the new development opportunities of "the Belt and Road". In addition, such series of activities as the forum on "the risk prevention and control of 'the Belt and Road' and Chinese enterprises going out" and the forum on the ecological agriculture and food safety of "the Belt and Road" will be carried out.

II. Cooperate with the UNIDO and Lead the New Direction of South-South Cooperation

This year is the 50th anniversary of the UNIDO, as the co-sponsor of the CIFIT, UNIDO will hold a series of important activities around the global sustainable, green and inclusive development and focusing on the industrial upgrading in the developing countries. Firstly, the UNIDO will host the 2016 International Investment Forum with the Ministry of Commerce and CCTV. At that time, the secretary-general Li Yong will deliver a speech in the Keynote Session and other important activities; secondly, It will organize the 50th anniversary exhibition; thirdly, it will host the "High-grade Forum on Investment in Africa", and the important government officials from Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ethiopia will attend the forum; fourthly, Professor Lin Yifu, the famous economist, will release the Report on the Industrial Upgrading of Ethiopia, the country report of the UNIDO.

III. Focus on Industry Spots and Enthusiastic Participation by Global Industries

The exhibition area of the 19th CIFIT amounts to 138,000 square meters with 6,000 booths. The scale breaks the record. There are investment theme pavilion, industry merchants pavilion and merchandise trade pavilion. And the investment them pavilion contains the exhibition areas including international investment, investment in China, Chinese investment abroad, capital of talent projects, international financial cooperation and crowd-financing; the industry merchants pavilion covers collection and investment, green building materials, big health, e-commerce, processing of fruits and vegetables, tea industry and other key industries; the first established merchandise trade pavilion contains the boutique exhibition area for cross-border e-commerce, exhibition area of specialty products of Macao and the boutique exhibition areas for Taiwan, Hong Kong and other countries and regions. At present, overseas participants are enthusiastic about the exhibition. There are plenty of institutions from over 50 countries and regions including Russia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil participating in the exhibition. The exhibition area approximates to 20,000 square meters. Italy, the guest country of honor of the 19th CIFIT, reserved an exhibition area of 800 square meters; Macao, the guest area of honor sets up the Macao Pavilion and an exhibition area for its specialty products of over 6,000 square meters and will carry out a series of activities concerning "Promotion week of vigorous Macao"; Jiangxi Province, the guest province of honor establishes a theme exhibition area of 1,000 square meters and will conduct a series of investment promotion activities. Besides, Australia has reserved an exhibition area of more than 1,000 square meters, Malaysia has conducted large-scale exhibition in three consecutive years, and Russia will establish the Russia Pavilion this year. More than 600 overseas merchant groups from over 90 countries and regions have registered to participate the exhibition. In addition to the UNIDO, the principal of the UNCTAD, the International Financial Company of the World Bank, the WAIPA, the World Trade Center Association and other international organizations will attend the exhibition.

IV. Stick to the Latest Trend and Create the "Big Forum" on Investment Cooperation

The theme of the "2016 International Investment Forum" held during the 19th CIFIT is "new concept, new development, and construction of a new pattern under open economy". The party and state leaders, foreign governmental officials, leaders of the Ministry of Commerce, the Secretary-general of the UNIDO, Li Yong, the Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Lin Yifu, the Chairman of Wanda Group, Wang Jianlin, the Chairman of Fosun Group, Guo Guangchang, etc. will attend the conference and deliver speeches. The Ministries of the State will hold 12 forums and symposiums including the "Multinational Company Symposium", the "Symposium on International Capacity Cooperation", the "Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation and Development Forum", the "China Financial Leasing Development Forum" and the "Sino-America Enterprise Cooperation Forum". The UNCTAD will release authoritative information including the "World Investment Report (Chinese version)"; the Ministry of Commerce will release the Report on Development of Chinese Foreign (2016) and other hot investment policies on China's utilization of foreign capital and foreign investment; The China Association of Private Equity will release the "2016 Global Mergers and Acquisitions Report", etc. Furthermore, relevant ministries of the State, national trade associations, social institutions and media will hold 30 specific sessions on all kinds of investment, and over 20 domestic and foreign investment promotion agencies will hold various promotion conferences. The 19th CIFIT will become a feast of wisdom sharing in the field of international investment, showing the latest trend of current global investment promotion.

V. Promote the Efficiency of Investments and Strive for Never Declining of Docking Platform

The 19th CIFIT will launch over 30,000 high-quality projects, organize more than 3,000 activities concerning project docking and business talks, further stress innovation, reinforce effectiveness, deepen the new concept of "big docking and big talk", effectively integrate the exhibition, forum and docking, and endeavor to construct a trinity professional service platform. Firstly, the docking of key countries and regions. A docking and promotion platform will be constructed for the guest country of honor, guest province of honor, star county and the countries (regions) along "the Belt and Road" for supporting the regional economic development; secondly, the docking of key industries. Docking exchanges will be conducted by sticking to the strategic emerging industries and key industry topics and focusing on the ten key industries including the new generation information and communication technology, service trade, modern agriculture, infrastructure, energy conservation and environmental protection, equipment manufacturing, petrochemicals, biopharmaceuticals, new energy and financial service; thirdly, the docking of capital projects. The specific docking including "Conference on the Docking of Infrastructure Projects" and the "Conference on the Docking of Investment Projects of Listed Companies", and the activities including the "Dialogue among Investment Institutions, Governor and Mayor" and the "Conference on the Exchange and Docking of the Belt and Road" will be carried out around the supply-side structural reform, innovation and entrepreneurship, investment fund, listed company and other hot spots via such multiple methods as road show and press conference on investment plans, for providing docking and exchange platform for both financing parties; fourthly, online and offline docking. The CIFIT Organizing Committee regularly holds the series activities of "Long Trip of Investment" for providing the service of financing docking and business negotiations for all investors.

Dear friends from the press, currently, Fujian Province is making all-out efforts to promote the construction of (Fujian) free trade zone, the core area of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, the ecological civilization demonstration area, Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, Fuzhou New District and the national independent innovation demonstration zone in accordance with the deployment requirements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, putting forward the development of Fujian to a new height. From January to July 2016, the gross regional domestic product of Fujian reached RMB1.426785 trillion and increased by 8.3%; the investment in the fixed assets reached RMB1.256422 trillion and increased by 9.7%; total retail sales of consumer goods reached RMB643.309 billion and increased by 11.3%; the gross foreign export value reached RMB403.739 billion and increased by 4.4%; the actually used foreign investment reached RMB5.227 billion and increased by 5.3%. Fujian has become one of the most growing and competitive regions in China. We expect all the media friends may make field interviews and have firsthand experiences during the 19th CIFIT and spread abroad the development and story of Fujian via your lens and words.

As the organizer and host of the CIFIT, Fujian Province and Xiamen City will do their utmost to further improve the comprehensive guarantee and service level, making participating guests satisfied. Meanwhile, we will strive to provide good conditions to the friends from the press to conduct propaganda and reporting. We sincerely wish the friends from the press may focus on and support the CIFIT as always, and cordially expect to meet the guests from all over the world in the beautiful Ludao on September 8.

Thank you!

Tang Jun: Thanks for the Vice Governor Liang's introduction. Let's welcome Ni Chao, the Vice Mayor of Xiamen to introduce the comprehensive support work for the 19th CIFIT by Xiamen.

Ni Chao: Dear friends from the press, good afternoon!

Under the direct leadership of the Ministry of Commerce, with the vigorous support and positive participation of all circles both at home and abroad including the new media and the unremitting efforts made by all institutions and member units of the Organizing Committee, the CIFIT has become the world's largest global investment event with the most comprehensive functions and widest influences, and it is popular among all national governments and domestic and foreign enterprises. I would like to take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation for all the people give long-term concern and supports on behalf of the host, Xiamen.

Xiamen, as one of the earliest special economic zones and the key strategic fulcrum cities of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, remains unique advantages in the opening-up and cross-straits exchanges and cooperation. It endeavors to build a key interconnecting hub for maintaining close cultural exchanges, promoting economic and trade cooperation and positively creating more favorable conditions for the CIFIT. The primary task is to consolidate the basis of holding meetings. Currently, Xiamen is fully implementing the strategic planning of Wild Xiamen, deepening the reform and opening-up, stressing the innovative promotion and speeding up the industrial and social transformation; the overall transformation and upgrading realizes remarkable effects and the development is in good state. From January to July 2016, the GDP, fixed investment, total financial revenue and contractual foreign investment of Xiamen respectively increased by 9.4%, 21.4%, 12.2% and 1.2 times. Overall indicators performed better than the same period of 2015. At the same time, the air quality in Xiamen continues to improve and ranks the third among the 74 key cities in China in the first half of 2016, and its excellence rate amounts to 99.49%. Secondly, the hardware facilities will be better improved. This year we accelerate the construction of transportation infrastructure of "Two Rings and Eight Radiations" to realize the opening of the entire out ring and inner ring; practically strengthen the efforts to construct parking lots, and add over 4,000 public off-road parking spaces. In addition, we have newly added over 10 four-star and five-star hotels to further improve the reception capacity and level of Xiamen. Thirdly, the business environment will be optimized. Xiamen regards being the pioneer of fully deepening reforms as its own duty, it will first promote the construction of the free trade zone and a series of reforms and innovations including Integration of Multiple Rules into One, reform on commercial system and community governance. All of these effectively stimulate the energy of economic and social development. We take the initiative to make comparisons with the global business environment indicator system of the World Bank and construct a world-class business environment indicator system with local characteristics on the basis of summarizing and improving the existing innovation results. We give full play the advantages of "conducting unprecedented experiment" of the construction of the free trade zone, vigorously promote "the delegation of power, the strengthening of regulation and improvement of services", devote to increasing the sense of acquisition and the degree of satisfaction of enterprises: cleaning 24 kinds of enterprise-related fees, cancelling and regulating 166 approval items, reducing 368 unnecessary certifications and materials declaration, and the legal, international and convenient business environment is gradually forming with much more international features. In the future, Xiamen will continue to promote the international features of the business environment from the economic operation, industrial strength, infrastructure, social governance and cultural environment, focus on the construction of relax, equal, standard and orderly market environment, honest, transparent, convenient and effective governmental affairs environment, harmonious, stable, warm and tolerant social environment, free, convenient, effective and safe open environment, equal, fair, sophisticated and perfect legal environment, concentrated and well-equipped element environment, as well as an integrated, convenient and guaranteed facility environment, make efforts to join in the list of cities with world-class business environment, and construct new competitive advantages supporting the transformation development of Xiamen.Well holding the CIFIT as a host is both the duty and the honor of Xiamen. Xiamen attaches much attention to comprehensive guarantee for the CIFIT, and it has constructed a set of guarantee service system for large-scale exhibitions in line with international norms: firstly, the service will be much more thoughtful. The comprehensive guarantee coordination committee is set up with 13 working groups, and the mayor acts as the director of the committee. At present, the guarantee mechanisms for vehicle guarantee, accommodation coordination, security, medical and health service, art propaganda, atmosphere arrangement, information and communication are fully initiated; the field liaison mechanism is established in accordance with international, normalized and standard requirements, green channel is open in airports, stations and passenger terminals, and the 24-hour customs clearance is implemented. At the same time, the mobilization training over reception, medical care, security personnel and volunteers will be strengthened in order to increase the level of civilized service. Secondly, more efforts will be made in the security. The Organizing Committee will further improve emergency plans and fully reinforce social prevention and control; what's more, general inspections on safe production will be carried out within Xiamen, and the work related to security service, social stability and other aspects will be meticulously performed. Thirdly, the environment will be more beautiful and fresh. We will practically improve the level of landscaping, ensure the city clean and tidy, highlight the "Wild Xiamen" with respect to the beautification, landscaping and purification of the city, for leaving fond memories on the guests. In addition, the 19th CIFIT will strictly conform to relevant provisions of the central government, strive to achieve the sense of large but not luxurious, considerate but not wasting, for providing a more convenient, standard, effective and safer service to the CIFIT, and endeavor to satisfy the sponsors, member units and all the participating merchants. We believe that under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce, with the support of all member units, the 19th CIFIT will reach a new height, form new features and make new achievements.

For the Ludao in September, the Wanshi Mountain is decorated in green and embraced by winds and waves. I wish the friends from all circles will continue to focus on Xiamen and the CIFIT. The wild Xiamen and the enthusiastic people in Xiamen warmly welcome and expect your arrival! Thank you!

Tang Jun: Thank Vice Mayor Ni for her introduction.

Next, the question-and-answer portion.

Reporter from China National Radio: Vice Minister Wang Shouwen, we noticed that at present, the growth of China's investment abroad is far higher than that of foreign capital intake. With China's economy development entering the new normal, what will the Ministry of Commerce do next to further improve the investment environment of China to enhance the comprehensive competitiveness in attracting foreign capital? Thank you.

Wang Shouwen: Just now I have introduced that under the severe domestic and international situation this year, the growth of China's foreign capital intake is still relatively steady, owing to a series of measures we have taken by the central and local governments recently, including some new opening-up and reform measures implemented in free trade zones. For example, under the Ministry of Commerce's joint efforts with Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian, and Tianjin, a series of reform experiments were carried out in four free trade zones approved by the State Council, such as establishment of a system of investment control with a management mode of negative list, which had 190 items at first and now decreased to 122, as the core. The regulatory system for trade facilitation we adopted in the free trade zones has worked effectively. Also, the financial innovation aiming at capital account convertibility and openness of financial service industry has achieved good results. The interim and ex post supervision with credit system as the core have preliminarily formed as well. China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone has formed 28 cases of replicable and propagable experience in the first, which have been implemented across the country.

In addition, the four free trade zones have jointly formed some good practices, and we have recommended the case as the best practice to the whole country.

Secondly, the measures on the opening-up have been further expanded. Last year, we conducted open comprehensive pilot work in service industry in Beijing Municipality under the plan approved by the State Council, and on June 1 this year, we realized the liberalization of trade in services in Hong Kong and Macao on a national scale.
Thirdly, constantly improve the investment environment. We are constantly improving the relevant laws and regulations of foreign capital to improve the investment environment, and the foreign investment law is issued for comment. Based on the negative list of pilot work in the free trade zones, we are studying the feasibility of promoting negative list to the whole country for implementation. The various departments of the State Council have also further reduced the matters subject to administrative examination and approval. Since the establishment of the current government, the matters subject to administrative examination and approval have reduced by 618, accounting for 36% of the original total amount. In addition, the method of forming registered capital of foreign-funded enterprises has now been changed from payment to subscription. In commercial system, by adopting the practice of "license first, certificate second", the procedure of foreign exchange control and foreign debt management has been further optimized, and the interim and ex post supervision has also been further improved, especially the central government and local governments have strengthened the protection of intellectual property, improved the transparency of the policy, and strengthened the construction of the fair competition environment, which makes the continuous improvement in foreign investment environment as well as the relatively steady growth in the foreign capital intake.

But we must also recognize that the situation of attracting foreign capital this year is more severe than last year. According to the report of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, global foreign capital intake increased by 20% last year, and it is likely to decrease by 10% to 15% this year, so there will be fiercer competition in attracting foreign capital. In this respect, we will continuous to expand the openness in the next step, especially in the fields of education, culture and finance, and we will further study and loosen foreign capital access. For general manufacturing industry, we will further study it and loosen the access restrictions of foreign capital, especially in the free trade zones. As the areas in negative list have passed the pressure test, we will study it and implement it across the nation and the scale of openness will further expand. Also, we need to accelerate the reform of foreign investment management system. As the study we are doing I have just mentioned, the mode of pre-establishment national treatment with a negative list has been tested in the free trade zones and achieved relatively good results, and now it is considered whether to adopt it on a nation scale. If you have noticed, not long ago, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) has held a meeting. And recently, the Standing Committee of the NPC has to review some laws, some of which involve foreign investment law. News media have already reported on it, you can read it for more information. This is also an important work which we will study in the aspect of foreign investment management system, for the purpose of providing foreign businessmen with stable, transparent and predictable legal environment.

In addition, the layout of foreign capital should continue to be optimized. As the coastal areas are still the main areas of attracting foreign capital now, we are improving and accelerating the revision of the catalog of priority industry for foreign investments in central and western areas, and encourage foreign investors to invest in the central and western areas, especially in supporting the transfer of processing trade to the western areas. We will also support the border cooperation zones, cross-border cooperation zones, and key areas in along-border opening, and continuous improve the investment environment. Attaching great importance to the suggestions and opinions of foreign businessmen to investment environment in China, we will hold a symposium with over 50 representatives of multinational corporations and business associations to attend at CIFIT in Xiamen, listen to their suggestions and opinions on China's investment environment, further enhance the ability of administration according to law, regulate behavior of law enforcement, and intensify protection of intellectual property, to promote a fairer competition environment in China, a more stable, transparent and predictable policy environment, and a business environment which is getting better and better. Thank you.

Reporter from China Economic Herald: I would like to ask Vice Governor Liang. As we know, Fujian is the core area of China's construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road confirmed by the central government. You have just introduced that this CIFIT will be integrated into the national strategy to reveal the theme of "the Belt and Road". I want to ask that what are the specific events or activities related to "the Belt and Road" in Fujian this year? And what results have been achieved in advancing the construction of core area of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road in Fujian? Thank you.

Liang Jianyong: Thank the friends from press for your attention to the Maritime Silk Road. I think this topic has a very strong sense of history for Fujian. As we know, Fujian has just been confirmed as the core area of the Maritime Silk Road. The reason is that the earliest Maritime Silk Road was in Quanzhou, Fujian, which called the Erythrina Indica in Eastern Grand Harbor. Zheng He's seven voyages all departed from Fujian. So that Fujian has been confirmed as the core area of the Maritime Silk Road by the central government is of great significance and has historical origin. There are six contents during the CIFIT this year. The first is to hold special display of new Silk Road; then to hold the seminar on the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and international production capacity cooperation; the third is to hold forum of risk prevention and control of "the Belt and Road" and Chinese enterprises' going out; the fourth is to hold exchange meeting on the development of new Silk Road, exchange meeting on "the Belt and Road" and other high-end business activities; the fifth is to hold symposium on investment of "'the Belt and Road' creates new ideas" in Hong Kong; the last is to hold "forum on 'the Belt and Road' ecological agriculture and food safety", "explanation meeting on investment in opportunities for 'the Belt and Road' strategic development", "new opportunities brought by the great development in northern Australia and 'the Belt and Road' in China", "road show and forum on projects of 'the Belt and Road' tourism properties" and other series of activities. According to the current degree of the implementation of the plan, these activities are very international, professional, forward-looking and high-end, and I believe they will let the friends from the press discover news with highlights and features.

Fujian is the core area of China's construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road confirmed by the Central Government. As the major mission of the opening-up and cooperation in Fujian Province, it is a significant opportunity for development as well as a major responsibility. In a period of time, Fujian Province has seriously implemented "the Belt and Road" initiative and promoted the construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, and some new progress have been achieved.

First, strengthen planning and leadership. We have also set up a leading group on the construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and its office in Fujian Province to strengthen the organization and leadership of the construction of the core area of "the Maritime Silk Road".

Secondly, speed up the interconnectivity. Promote the construction of core harbors, for example, Fuzhou Harbor, Xiamen Harbor and the harbors along "the Belt and Road", such as Port Kelang, the biggest port in Malaysia, sign a intention on friendly cooperation, to promote the development of shipping logistics jointly. 6 Southeast Asia ship routes have been added in Xiamen Southeast International Shipping Center, and ship routes on the Maritime Silk Road reach to 18, realizing the "Fuzhou-Xiamen route daily work" and "Shanghai-Xiamen route daily work". Recently, everyone is interested in the railway route from Xiamen to Chengdu and then to Europe. Its significance is that it can connect Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Europe, which has important meaning for it connects the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic Belt. The route is now operated well with a lot of special trains departing for Europe every week, connecting the Maritime and Land Silk Road. Xiamen has made great effort in constructing the home port for tankers, launching the ship route for tankers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and has joined the Asia Cruise Fund. Xiamen Airlines is an airline company with quite many relatively fast international flights launched in recent years.

Thirdly, deepen maritime cooperation. We have a China-ASEAN fishery industry cooperation and fishery product trading platform, which is the current biggest aquatic product trading platform in China. It is known to all that there are a lot of fishery resources in the area of Southeast Asia, and China-ASEAN Marine Product Exchange comes into being in such background. Also, China-ASEAN Ocean School of Xiamen University, Malaysia and other China-ASEAN maritime cooperation funds are carried forward. The construction of Indonesia brackish water fish prawn mixed ecological breeding base of Chunshen Co., Ltd. has started, and China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation is in active preparation under the support of the state. The "navigation mark training class of ASEAN" and "workshop for marine fishery management officials in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America" are held. Based on the Island Research Center, SOA, P.R.C located on Pingtan island, we conduct coastal change, protection against coastal zone erosion and other scientific researches jointly with Sri Lanka and ASEAN countries, helping the countries along "the Maritime Silk Road" to use coastal resources rationally and enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capacity.

Fourthly, expand economic and trade cooperation. In 2015, the exports of the province towards the countries (regions) along "the Maritime Silk Road" were RMB183.84 billion, 4.2% higher than last year, 3.5% higher than the average level of the entire province; the exports from January to July 2016 were RMB113.29 billion, 15.2% higher than the same period in 2015. Vice Minister Wang Shouwen just said that the situation this year is more severe than last year, but the growth on the Maritime Silk Road has grown from one-digit last year to double-digit this year, 10.8% higher than the average level of the entire province. In 2015, the amount of investment of the province towards the countries (regions) along "the Maritime Silk Road" were USD1.38 billion, 2.7 times higher than that in the last year; the amount of investment from January to July 2016 were USD1.63 billion, increasing by 2.5%.

Fifthly, close cultural exchanges. Quanzhou City initiated and found "the United Nations Mritime-continential Silk Road Cities Alliance Business Council", and successfully held the series of activities of 14th Asian Arts Festival, the 2nd Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival. The nation has approved Quanzhou as the permanent place for the Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival. The grand dance drama, the Dream of Maritime Silk Road written by Fujian Province Song and Dance Theatre has been performed in National Centre for the Performing Arts, United Nations Headquarters, Headquarters of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), European Union headquarters, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other places. The Long Voyage on the Silk Road - Boutique Picture Exhibition of Cultural Relics of the Maritime Silk Road, jointly presented by 7 provinces and cities and 45 museums across the country, has been held successively in the United Nations Headquarters, Brazil, Britain, Spain, Australia, Thailand and the major cities in China. Now, the number of visitors has exceeded 1.6 million. Based on the fact that 22 important historical relics of "Maritime Silk Road" has been selected on the Tentative List of World Heritage in China, 11 potential cultural relics of ancient ports, wharves, overseas trade inscriptions, kilns related to the Maritime Silk Road have been selected and reported to the State Administration of Cultural heritage in order to be considered on the extended list of "Heritage of the Maritime Silk Road".

We cordially welcome friends of the press to take a visit to Fujian, not only for the CIFIT just mentioned, but also for Fujian’s historical relics in the core area of the Maritime Silk Road and the efforts we are making, thus deepening the understanding of the strategy of Maritime Silk Road and giving some constructive opinions on the further expansion of our efforts. Thanks again.

Reporter from Shanghai Securities News: Xiamen is a city as the strategic fulcrum of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, and Vice Governor Liang has mentioned that last year a new China-EU train has launched in Xiamen. I would like to ask Vice Mayor Ni Chao that can you introduce the current main achievements of the train? Thank you.

Ni Chao: Vice Governor Liang just said that Xiamen, a city as the strategic fulcrum of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, actively plays its role, especially the concentrating effort in strengthening the mentioned China-EU (Xiamen) train combining the construction of the free trade zone. There are a dozen of China-EU trains in China, but this train is called China-EU (Xiamen) train, which has its own characteristics of connecting the southeast coast, the Midwest, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau with ASEAN, Central Asia and Europe. As a new logistics channel for the countries along "the Belt" and "the Road", it has been the bridge in participating in international cooperation.

Through the launching of China-EU (Xiamen) train, Xiamen has become a city as the hub of land and sea which realizes the seamless connection between "the Belt" and "the Road". China-EU train refers to a fast freight train from China to Europe, a marshaled freight train for loading containers. Currently, 12 cities in Chinese mainland have launched China-EU trains. China-EU (Xiamen) train is launched on August 16, 2015, which is the first China-EU train launched in four free trade zones in China. The train departs from Haicang Railway station in Xiamen area of Fujian free trade zone, passing Chengdu and leaving the country through Alashankou, Xinjiang, ending in Lodz, Poland via Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries. The whole route is more than 12,000 km with a running time of 14 days. The train starts from one train per week to two trains per week with two directions. Compared with the same kind of trains in China, the greatest feature of China-EU (Xiamen) train is the "rail-sea intermodal transport". From April 2016, the train has been expanded to Taiwan by rail-sea intermodal transport, providing Taiwanese companies with a fast and convenient access to European market. They will spend 40 days by sea, but if they go to Xiamen by sea, and then depart from Xiamen to Europe by train for only 15 days, more than half the time will be saved. In the past year, 51 train run, with 1,415 containers of 40 chi and an accumulative value of goods of over RMB670 million. In 2016, 100 trains and 4,500 containers are planned for shipping, reaching a total value of goods of RMB 4 billion.

China-EU (Xiamen) train realizes the strategic connection between "the Belt" and "the Road", becoming the new cargo channel for Taiwan, ASEAN and European countries, expanding the economic impact to ASEAN and promoting the bilateral and multilateral trade between countries along the "the Belt and Road"; it realizes the interconnectivity between provinces in China as well as nations in the world, promoting the gradient transfer of coastal industries to the Midwest and accelerating the industry transformation and upgrading.

Currently, we are speeding up the construction of the new national logistic channel of China-EU (Xiamen) train and expanding the radiation effect and the leading role of the train, to better serve the national strategy of the construction of "the Belt and Road". Thank you.

Reporter from CCTV Finance: I would like to ask Vice Minister Wang Shouwen. As you have mentioned the position of "Three Platforms and Three Orientations" of the CIFIT in the speech, could you introduce the specific efforts of the CIFIT made in the construction of "Three Platforms and Three Orientations"?

Wang Shouwen: For the construction of three platforms, the first is to persist in building two-way investment promotion platform. Many provinces and cities in China held merchants conferences before, mainly to attract foreign capital, and the CIFIT not only attracts foreign capital but also promotes Chinese enterprises to "go out", conforming to the needs of the current economic development stage in China. In this respect, the CIFIT Organizing Committee has adopted a series of measures to enhance the booth layout in aspect of "going out", such as setting up an overseas cooperation zone. Australia, Italy, Russia and other countries have set up special booths for the merchants in the CIFIT to attract Chinese companies to invest. For attracting foreign capital, we has set up national exhibition, exhibition of provinces, cities, development zones, and industry merchants hall, the two-way investment that will further strengthen the features of the platform. The second is to build authoritative information release platform. The global investment has been more and more active with the highest amount of investment once reaching to USD 2.3 trillion. In recent years, global investment is about USD 1.5 trillion per year, and in last year, reached USD 1.7 trillion. Such information is very helpful for investment negotiation, and needs to be made available to the public via a centralized platform. So we invited the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to issue the World Investment Report (in Chinese), for analyzing the regularity and features of the world investment, and the Ministry of Commerce will also issue the Report on Development of Chinese Foreign Investment (2016) and other authoritative information. The third is to create a platform for investment trends research. Transnational investment has become more and more complex and frequent. Over 50% of China's investment abroad is in forms of mergers and acquisitions. The early foreign capital invested in China is basically greenfield investment, but in recent years, the investment in China in the form of mergers and acquisitions are increasing, accounting for over 20% currently. If we master these investment trends, it will be of great meaning to the industry, the host governments and the government of the home country of the investment, and we will also hold a series of seminars about it.For the construction of "Three Orientations", the first is professionalization, which is to emphasize on the professionalism in the organization of exhibition and seminars, the selection of the topic of the seminars and the organization of professional audience. We do not emphasize on the scale of the CIFIT but the professionalism, to make everyone learn something from it. The second is internationalization. In recent years, the CIFIT has attracted more than 10,000 foreign exhibitors and merchants, and over 50 countries have taken part in the exhibitions. Also, groups from nearly 100 countries have come to attract merchants and investment, or to invest. So the internationalization will always be one of the directions of efforts, which is a basic position. The third is marketization. In accordance with the decisions of the Central Committee and the State Council, we will seriously and firmly implement the guidelines of the Eight Rules of Political Bureau of the Central Committee, and gradually make market play its role, to hold the exhibition successfully. After all, exhibition is a special industry. It is hard for it to completely rely on market competition and therefore government service and some public goods are necessary. In this respect, we should not only exert the government's ability to provide public goods, but also further enhance the level of marketization. Thank you.

Tang Jun: The last question, please.

Reporter from International Business Daily: my question is to Vice Mayor Ni. The exotic activities of the guest country of honor at the CIFIT in the past years are especially striking. The related information is also mentioned by Vice Governor Liang. Can you introduce more specifically about the relevant information of the guest country, guest area and guest province of honor? Thank you.

Ni Chao: As the striking activities of the guest country and province of honor in the past few years we have just mentioned, this year, we have also arranged some activities. In addition to the Italy, the guest country of honor and Jiangxi Province, the guest province of honor, we also added Macao as the guest area of honor this year. Let me briefly introduce the details.

The guest country of honor in this conference - Italy has set up a booth of 800 square meters. A large-scale exhibition at the CIFIT has expressed that it will introduce Italian products, services and investment opportunities at the CIFIT, and promote the development of Italy-China trade for the complementary advantages of the two sides. The CIFIT Organizing Committee has planned a series of activities for the "guest country of honor": the opening ceremony of the guest country of honor, China-Italy economic and trade forum, Italy special merchant conference and investment project conference, Italian red wine day, and other special activities will be held. We hope to provide the platform and opportunities for Italian companies through these activities for "guest country of honor", and help them introduce the products and services overseas.

Secondly, a series of activities of "Jiangxi – the guest province of honor". Jiangxi Province, "the guest province of honor", will have a large-scale exhibition at the CIFIT. In addition to a themed exhibition on investment of 1,000 square meters, there will also be an introduction conference of Jiangxi Province, a Jiangxi merchant explanation meeting and a series of investment promotion activities.

Thirdly, a series of activities of "Macao – the guest area of honor". Macau, "the guest area of honor", will have a large-scale exhibition at the CIFIT. A series of activities of "dynamic Macau promotion week": a "Macau hall" of 180 square meters has been set up in international investment area, and a Macau special booth of 6,000 square meters has been set up in merchandise trade hall. There will also be an opening ceremony of the guest area of honor, Fujian-Macao trade and business conference, Fujian-Macao tourism conference, Xiamen-Macao youth entrepreneurship conference, road shows and promotion activities, presenting Macau's economy, trade, tourism and culture in all dimensions.

In addition, during this CIFIT, Jingyuan County, Ningxia will appear as a star county and hold related activities.

That's all I want to introduce. Thank you.

Tang Jun: Thank you. This is the end of today's conference. Thanks again for the attendance of Vice Minister Wang Shouwen, Vice Governor Liang Jianyong and Vice Mayor Ni Chao, and the long-term attention and support to commerce of all the friends form press. Thank you!

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)