‘ Made in China 2025’ manufacturing push open, transparent, ministry says

A plan by China to boost its domestic manufacturing industry has been somewhat misunderstood by foreign organizations as a move to favor local companies over foreign competition, a government official said on Wednesday .

Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin reiterated the government’s stance on foreign participation in its “Made in China 2025” plan at a briefing with reporters in Beijing.

Foreign business groups have grown more vocal in criticizing China’s market reforms, and they have expressed concern that the plan will force members to give up key technology to gain market access.

“There has been some misreading and misunderstanding among foreign media and organizations ( about the plan),” said Xin. “China always adheres to the principles of fairness, transparency and openness.”

Xin said that all companies in China, whether domestic or foreign, will receive the same treatment under the “Made in China 2025” policy.

The plan calls for a dramatic increase in domestic content in 10 sectors ranging from robotics to biopharmaceuticals that the government hopes will accelerate an industrial upgrade as economic growth slows.

But Xin said that references to domestic market share numbers should be seen more as estimates than hard government targets.

Xin said that China is actively cooperating with other countries to promote industrial upgrades, but a key problem is that developed countries have put strict limits on exports of certain technology, equipment and products to China.

“We hope that both China and other countries further open up and deepen cooperation,” said Xin. “We also welcome more foreign companies to actively join China’s efforts to become a strong manufacturing nation.”