Level Playing Field

China will step up efforts to ease market restrictions for foreign investment, with measures to open up more sectors and guarantee equal treatment, according to a press conference on November 9.

Tang Wenhong, an official with the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will set an agenda to implement policies designed to improve the business environment and encourage foreign investment.

By the end of March 2019, the government will eliminate all limits that go beyond the official negative list for foreign investment and a special inspection will be launched to ensure all foreign-funded firms are treated equally in government procurement, subsidies and licenses.

By the end of this year, provin- cial authorities will establish and improve mechanisms to handle complaints from foreign businesses.

All laws, rules and normative documents that go against the current opening-up policy will be scrapped by the end of 2019. From services to manufacturing and telecommunications, more sectors will become open to foreign businesses and the investment environment will improve, Tang said.

A string of policies have already been announced to improve the business environment, including building a level playing field, strengthening intellectual property protection and reducing business operation costs.

Xiong Maoping, an official from the State Administration for Market Regulation, said steps will be taken to make market entry easier and