China Opening Up: Foreign companies in Changchun enjoying dividends of China's hospitality

World
Europe

03:01

Over the years, China's economic expansion has created countless opportunities for companies both at home and abroad. With the nation keen to continue opening up, CGTN's GUAN YANG went to Changchun -- known as the city of automobiles -- to see how that sector is benefitting from the country's ongoing liberalization program.

From Seoul to Changchun. A Ra Hong, a native of South Korea, struggled, as many foreigners in China do, with whether her decision to come here was the right one. A year ago, she took on a new position at her company's manufacturing base in Changchun. She says so far, so good.

HONG A-RA TECHNICIAN, KUMHO TIRE (CHANGCHUN) CO., INC "I shouldn't have worried so much before. Now I'm used to things -- like the popular car-hailing app, and where to buy authentic Korean pickles. And I think knowing the business culture of China is a valuable asset to my career."

The company A Ra Hong works for has enjoyed the dividends of China's opening up, and they expect more as China plans to welcome even more foreign firms to its burgeoning auto industry.

GUAN YANG CHANGCHUN, JILIN PROVINCE "Amid China's latest efforts to further open up, a substantial amount of foreign capital has come in. Experts say this will help ease administrative procedures, strengthen intellectual property protection and optimize the business environment, making China even more attractive to foreign investors and workers."

When we visited a fully-owned subsidiary of a German industry leader, we didn't see any German managers, nor technicians around. This explains a lot about the current situation on IP protection in China.

WANG ZHIQIANG VICE MANAGER, SEG AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS (CHINA) At the beginning of our expansion project in China, we had lawyers negotiating with local authorities about every detail. Both parties kept their word as far as what was laid out in the contract. And as mutual trust grew, we started localizing Human Resources.

Zhu Xinqing, an official from the local commerce bureau in Changchun, has spent more than 20 years facilitating foreign companies that come to China. He knows full well what makes them stay.

ZHU XINQING, VICE DIRECTOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT SERVICES, CHANGCHUN NEW AREA "The bottom line is implementing National Treatment principles for foreign investors and workers, an integral part of many WTO agreements. What's more, personal interactions are also important - to make the foreigners feel like they're at home in their spare time."

China's economic development was achieved in an open market, and its future development requires an even greater openness. As the country now takes on a host of initiatives for opening up even further, investors from around the world will vote with their feet. GUAN YANG, CGTN.