China is continuing to open up its domestic market to foreign companies. Many overseas firms now enjoy relaxed restrictions in sectors like energy, natural resources, infrastructure, and the service-industry. One example of the increasingly hospitable business climate is gasoline retail. Foreign investors can now open branded chain filling stations providing Chinese consumers with a range of oil products from different suppliers. CGTN's Li Jianhua visited one gas station to find out more.

PetroChina and British Petroleum, a joint venture formed in 2001.

And now the British oil company may start a new "solo" career in China.

Effective this month, foreign-invested companies are allowed to open over 30 chain petrol stations funded by the same foreign investors – this time, alone.

YANG XIAOPING, CHAIRMAN BP CHINA "At BP, we really welcome this open, transparent and progressive market process, and we really think this is a good step for the Chinese government to bring these positive measures for foreign investors to be more committed (to) China. We are very encouraged by it."

Through partnerships with China's state-owned oil companies, BP currently operates over 740 dual-branded filling stations in southeast China, serving about 400-thousand customers every day. And 1,000 more dual-branded or single-branded ones will be added in the coming five years.

SHEN MING, GENERAL MANAGER BP PETROCHINA PETROLEUM "We are very committed to introducing premium retail offers to Chinese customers and satisfying the growing demands of Chinese consumers. We bring a wealth of retail expertise with a set of differentiating offers of high-quality products and services."

Despite this, many suspect this new policy is only symbolic. Some experts take issue with that, saying this policy will bring solid benefits to all parties.

LIU CHUNSHENG, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMICS "China's Reform and Opening up are key to the nation's development. I believe China's move to open its market more in the petrol retail industry is conducive to the upgrading of China's petrol retail sector. It would also lower China's oil prices, which can be docked with that abroad so that it can reflect the supply and demand scenario of international petrol resources."

Official figures show foreign investment in China stood at nearly 140 billion US dollars last year, increasing by 7.9 percent year on year. And this is likely to continue trending upward.

LI JIANHUA GUANGZHOU, GUANGDONG PROVINCE "China is further opening its market to foreign direct investment. Despite inviting possible competition for China's local gas retail sector, experts say the move may actually improve the country's consumer petrol service. More importantly, the quality of petrol on offer is likely to improve as well. In the not-so-distant future, foreign-managed filling stations may soon be a reality. Li Jianhua, CGTN, GUANGDONG."