Officials introduce China's latest measures to boost opening-up, foreign investment

Chinese officials on Wednesday introduced the country's latest measures to boost high-level opening-up and attract foreign investment, including expanding the "Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment" and facilitating data flow to lower costs for foreign financial institutions.

The media conference held by China's State Council Information Office follows the release of an action plan to steadily promote high-level opening-up and boost efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment.

As part of the efforts to boost foreign investment, China is working on expanding the "Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment," according to Hua Zhong, head of the department of foreign capital and overseas investment of the National Development and Reform Commission.

China is encouraging and supporting foreign enterprises to invest in its green economy, digital economy and health industries, Hua added.

Zhu Bing, head of the department of foreign investment administration under the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will focus on building the "Invest China" brand, by rolling out high-quality activities, offering good services and creating a superior business environment.

Meanwhile, the country is working on new regulations and measures to facilitate data flow to lower costs for foreign financial institutions, and optimize payment services for foreigners, said Zhou Yu, head of the international department of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.

Bruce Pang, chief economist at JLL Greater China, told CGTN that China is putting greater efforts into providing impetus, convenience and examples for creating a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized first-class business environment. 

For foreign investors, China's economy enjoys a long-term, healthy development, and its financial market, which continues to open up, has huge capacity in both depth and breadth, Pang added.