Nation called on to expand opening-up, further propel innovation, new tech use

A safe haven for foreign investors seeking predictable market opportunities at a difficult time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China will remain a top destination for foreign investment despite various challenges such as rising competition from other emerging markets and a probable pullback of economic stimulus in developed countries, said experts and business leaders.

In order to increase its attractiveness to foreign investors, they said, the nation must expand opening-up and further propel innovation and the application of new technologies.

Their comments came as the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 14.9 percent year-on-year to a record high of 1.15 trillion yuan last year.

In US dollar terms, the inflow went up 20.2 percent year-on-year to $173.48 billion, the ministry said.

Moreover, the annual growth rate of foreign investment in high-tech industries reached 17.1 percent last year, while it grew by 10.7 percent in high-tech manufacturing and 19.2 percent in the high-tech services sector.

Foreign investment in the services sector exceeded 906 billion yuan in 2021, up 16.7 percent year-on-year.

"With effective control of COVID-19, China's stable industrial and supply chains and its expanding domestic market will consolidate foreign investors' confidence," said Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

"Its rapid pace of urbanization, industrial upgrading and domestic market expansion amid the pursuit of high-level opening-up will continue to create more market opportunities for foreign investors," Zhou added.

Allan Gabor, president of Merck China and managing director of Merck Electronics China, said foreign businesses, including his company, have profited greatly from China's growth, and all three of Merck's business sectors — electronics, healthcare and life sciences — will continue to invest in China.

China is already the strongest growth driver and the second-largest sales market globally for Merck, he said, adding that the company has a strong focus on cooperation with Chinese partners and local innovation in all of its businesses.

Huo Jianguo, vice-chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, said the Central Economic Work Conference in December, which outlined key economic policy priorities for 2022, again showed China's determination to expand high-level opening-up and establish a unified, transparent and law-abiding domestic market which meets international standards.

As more measures to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors under the framework of laws and regulations are expected, China will become even more competitive in terms of attracting foreign investment, he said.

However, outside factors are increasingly affecting the growth momentum of foreign investment inflows to China, and the nation needs to ramp up efforts to cope with the situation, analysts said.

As the pandemic evolves, foreign investors are likely to have more options if economic recovery occurs in more countries and the layout of global industrial and supply chains is adjusted, according to Zhou from the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

As investors go where they can generate profits, Zhou said that China is expected to continue to create stable and favorable conditions for the application of new technologies and products, including a supportive regulatory and financing environment.

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记者：刘志华

播报：Corrie Knight

音频编辑：万月英

【背景阅读】

2021年实际使用外资金额11493.6亿元 我国吸收外资规模再创新高

经济日报北京1月13日讯 商务部发布的最新数据显示，2021年，全国实际使用外资金额11493.6亿元，同比增长14.9%，引资规模再创新高。在13日举行的例行新闻发布会上，商务部新闻发言人束珏婷表示，2021年，商务部会同各地方各有关部门，围绕“六稳”“六保”和“稳住外贸外资基本盘”部署，扎实推进稳外资各项工作，圆满完成全年稳外资工作任务，成效好于预期。

从引资结构看，高技术产业和服务业引资增长较快。高技术产业实际使用外资同比增长17.1%，其中高技术制造业增长10.7%，高技术服务业增长19.2%。服务业实际使用外资金额9064.9亿元，同比增长16.7%。

从投资来源地看，“一带一路”沿线国家和东盟投资增长较快，实际投资同比分别增长29.4%和29%（含通过自由港投资数据），高于全国引资增速。

从区域分布看，我国东部、中部、西部地区实际使用外资同比分别增长14.6%、20.5%和14.2%。

2022年，商务部将继续推动吸收外资稳总量、优结构、提质量，更加积极有效利用外资。一方面，落实好2021年版全国和自贸试验区外资准入负面清单，督促加快配套法规文件“立改废”，保障“非禁即入”。修订扩大《鼓励外商投资产业目录》，引导外资更多投向先进制造、现代服务、高新技术、节能环保、绿色低碳、数字经济等新兴领域和中西部地区。

另一方面，建设好自由贸易港、自贸试验区、国家级经开区、服务业扩大开放综合示范试点地区等平台，发挥营商环境和制度型开放优势，吸引更多外资项目落地。办好进博会、广交会、服贸会、消博会、投洽会等重大经贸展会，加大招商引资力度。

同时，发挥外贸外资协调机制及其重点外资项目工作专班作用，完善重点外资企业和项目“直通车”一对一跟踪服务机制，推动协调解决人员入境等企业关切的问题。会同有关部门加大新项目要素保障力度，推动项目加快落地和建设。

“我们将继续致力于打造市场化、法治化、国际化的营商环境，使中国长期成为外商投资的热土。”束珏婷表示，要进一步优化外商投资环境，全面清理与外商投资法及其实施条例不符的规定，落实外资企业公平待遇。充分发挥外资企业投诉工作机制作用，加大外商投资合法权益保护力度，稳定外国投资者对华投资的预期和信心。（来源：经济日报）

责任编辑：钱耐安