China reaffirmed its commitment to high-level opening up on Saturday, with officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, pledging more market access and a better financial environment for foreign investors.

Asked about China's policies for foreign investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) at a press briefing on Saturday, Zheng Bei, deputy head of the NDRC, said the country will "resolutely advance high-level opening up."

Chen Lei, Director of NDRC's Department of Development Planning, said the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan aims to optimize the foreign investment environment through actively seizing the initiative in opening up, promoting innovative trade development and broadening two-way investment cooperation.

China has already reduced the negative list for market access to 29 areas, with all restrictions on investing in the manufacturing sector removed, Chen said. The country will focus on opening up more sectors during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, including service sectors like telecommunications, internet, education, culture and healthcare.

To promote innovative trade development, China will enhance the quality and efficiency of foreign trade while promoting balanced development of imports and exports, Chen explained. As a major trading partner for over 160 countries and regions worldwide, China's total import and export value of goods in 2025 has reached $6.35 trillion. Moving forward, China will continue to optimize the policy environment for foreign investment and offer broader market opportunities to countries around the world through exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair and the China International Fair for Trade in Services.

With China's actual use of foreign direct investment exceeding $750 billion during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the 15th Five-Year Plan period targets broader two-way investment cooperation. The country will continue to optimize the foreign investment environment, fully implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises and improve the service system for foreign investment, said Chen. 

China welcomes more foreign-invested enterprises to invest in the country and share its vast development opportunities, while also supporting qualified enterprises in pursuing mutually-beneficial overseas investment cooperation, Chen added.