He Yadong: Good afternoon, friends from the press. Welcome to the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce. I have no briefing to make today.

Please raise your questions.

Yicai: In 2024, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use totaled 826.25 billion yuan. What measures does MOFCOM plan to take in 2025 to further attract foreign investment? Will MOFCOM continue to hold “Invest in China” activities?

He Yadong: In 2025, MOFCOM will resolutely implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council by intensifying efforts to attract and secure investment. We will focus on the following aspects.

First, further open up and continuously expand market access. Restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector have already been lifted. We will gradually open up the services sector such as telecommunications, healthcare, and education on a trial basis. We will revise the Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment to enhance policy attractiveness.

Second, build brands and hold high-quality “Invest in China” activities. We will continue to host activities such as investment promotion, project matchmaking, policy introduction, and seminars both domestically and internationally, making the China International Fair for Investment and Trade a hallmark event of“Invest in China”.

Third, improve services and build a top-notch business environment. We will select more specified and targeted topics for the roundtable meetings for foreign-invested enterprises, focusing on their concerns and addressing their requests. We ensure equal participation for domestic and foreign enterprises in large-scale equipment upgrades, trade-ins of consumer goods, government procurement, and invitation and submission of bids, providing a fair competition environment for foreign-invested enterprises.

In a nutshell, we will continue to reduce negative lists and improve the business environment to give foreign-invested enterprises optimism, certainty, and confidence. “Next China is still China”. Thank you.

Cover News: Policies for the electric bicycle trade-in program have received widespread popularity. What are the conditions for consumers to apply for subsidies and how can they get them conveniently?

He Yadong: Thank you for your question. On January 20, MOFCOM and four other departments issued a notice on implementing the electric bicycle trade-in program for 2025. The policies for electric bicycle trade-ins will continue to be carried out in 2025, and local authorities will set subsidy standards guided by MOFCOM in line with local conditions, aligning with the standards in the previous year to ensure a smooth transition.

Here are some reminders for consumers. First, submitting an entire used electric bicycle with its onboard battery is a prerequisite for claiming the subsidy. Second, the subsidy for purchasing new ones does not include the resale value of the used electric bicycle. The used one will be recycled at the local market price of scrapped electric bicycles. Third, consumers should verify that the new electric bicycle comes with a product qualification certificate and China Compulsory Certification (CCC), and ensure that an official invoice is issued.

We encourage sales outlets to provide convenience for consumers by offering one-stop services for selling used vehicles, purchasing new ones, and registration assistance. We also encourage localities to provide subsidies through ways like instant discounts to deliver tangible benefits for consumers. Thank you.

Phoenix: The executive orders signed by President Trump on his first day in office did not include tariffs on China, but according to media reports, he directed federal agencies to “investigate and remedy” trade deficits and evaluate the implementation of the first phase of the China-U.S. trade agreement. What is the response of MOFCOM? Has China started communication with the U.S. through economic and trade team?

He Yadong: The nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is win-win cooperation. MOFCOM and the relevant U.S. authorities have been maintaining communication. China hopes that under the strategic leadership of the heads of state of the two countries, the two sides, based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, will strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the stable and sound development of China-US economic and trade relations. Thank you.

Market News International: Recently, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said at the World Economic Forum that China will promote trade balance by importing more quality products and services. How will MOFCOM shore up imports this year? How to see the prospect of imports in 2025?

He Yadong: Actively expanding imports shows China taking initiative to shoulder its responsibility as a big country, and also makes important contributions to the growth of the global economy. In 2024, China’s total imports reached 18 trillion yuan, up by 2.3% year on year, hitting a new record high. China is expected to be the world’s second-largest import market for 16 consecutive years, fully demonstrating opportunities presented by China’s super big market and China’s resolution to expand opening up.

Actively expanding imports is also an important part of China’s pursuit of high-standard opening up. The characteristics of China’s market such as large capacity, multiple levels and huge potential have not changed, and China’s approach of implementing active and effective import policies has not changed. We will open up China’s goods market to the outside world in an orderly manner, implement zero tariff treatment for 100% of the products of the least developed countries with whom diplomatic relations have been established, continue to give full play to important trade show platforms including the CIIE, CICPE, and the Canton Fair, and push forward the building of the National Import Trade Promotion and Innovation Demonstration Zones. We will continue to improve the level of import facilitation and tap into the potential of imports, so as to build China’s super big market into a shared market for the world, injecting new impetus into the global economy. Thank you.

CNBC: Trump said on his first day in office that he would not immediately increase tariffs, but on the second day, he said it is possible for him to impose a 10% tariff on China since February 1. How does China view this?

He Yadong: China’s position on tariff has been consistent. Tariff measures are detrimental to both China and the U.S., as well as to the world as a whole. China stands ready to work with the U.S. to promote China-U.S. economic and trade relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable direction in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Thank you.

Bloomberg: Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favour of banning TikTok in the U.S., and the app restored its services after being taken off. At the same time, Trump signed an executive order to delay the taking effect of the ban on the short-video social media platform TikTok, and said that TikTok needs to cede 50% of its shares to U.S. companies and the U.S. government. What is your comment on this?

He Yadong: China has always respected and safeguarded the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of enterprises, and opposed practices that run counter to the basic principles of market economy and harm the legitimate interests of enterprises. We hope that the U.S. could listen more to the voices of enterprises and the people, provide a fair and just business environment for the development of enterprises from all countries in the U.S., including Chinese invested enterprises, and do more things that are conducive to the economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S. and to the well-being of the people of the two countries. Thank you.