Since the beginning of this year, investment has maintained a momentum of resumption of growth, and the amount of foreign capital used has increased——

Stable investment and foreign investment, China has practical measures (Rui Finance)

  The investment growth rate declined in July. Is there still room for investment growth?

The global new crown pneumonia epidemic and the complex and severe international situation, how to boost foreign investment confidence?

At a press conference held by the National Development and Reform Commission a few days ago, relevant persons in charge responded to issues related to China's investment and foreign investment situation.

Investment still has conditions for stable growth

  From January to July, national investment in fixed assets increased by 10.3%, a drop of 2.3 percentage points from the first half of the year.

  "Since this year, affected by the base effect, the investment growth rate has been'high before and low afterwards', and the overall growth trend has been maintained." said Lu Wenbin, deputy director of the Investment Department of the National Development and Reform Commission. Impact, but on the whole, investment still has the conditions for stable growth.

  The growth momentum of manufacturing investment is good.

The two-year average growth rate of manufacturing investment has turned from negative to positive from January to May this year.

At present, the profit of manufacturing enterprises is growing steadily, and the overall expectation of enterprises is stable, which is conducive to the continuous recovery of manufacturing investment.

  Major engineering projects have started construction one after another.

This year is the first year of the "14th Five-Year Plan". All localities and departments are actively promoting the implementation of a number of major projects with a strong foundation, increased functions, and long-term benefits, which will play an important role in expanding effective investment.

  New investment momentum is growing rapidly.

Localities and departments continue to increase their efforts in industrial transformation and upgrading, and investment in high-tech industries has grown rapidly; they have actively promoted the equalization of basic public services and accelerated the shortcomings exposed by the epidemic. Investment in education, health and other social fields has grown rapidly.

  The construction funds for major projects are guaranteed.

The scale of new local government special bonds this year reached 3.65 trillion yuan, maintaining a relatively high level.

The successive issuance and use of special bonds will effectively drive the expansion of effective investment in infrastructure and other fields.

Speed ​​up the construction progress of projects under construction

  "Two new and one heavy" is a key area for expanding effective investment.

From January to July, the investment in fixed assets in transportation was 1,888.6 billion yuan, an increase of 5.2% over the same period last year. The overall performance was stable and stable and improved in quality.

  Zheng Jian, deputy director of the Basic Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that the next step will ensure the orderly progress of strategic projects that have already started.

Further optimize and select transportation projects with good economic and social benefits, implement rolling implementation, and advance in cascades.

  Major water conservancy projects are an important part of the "two new and one heavy" construction.

Since the beginning of this year, the construction of the backbone of the national water network, represented by 150 major water conservancy projects, has continued to accelerate, and a total of 49 projects have been started.

As of the end of August, major water conservancy projects completed the construction investment of 72 billion yuan this year. Compared with the same period in 2020 and 2019, they completed 5.7 billion yuan and 16.5 billion yuan respectively, and the completion rate exceeded the same period of previous years by more than 7 percentage points.

  "At the same time, we must also see that there are still some weak links in my country's water conservancy infrastructure, and we need to continue to increase the strength to make up for the shortcomings." Li Mingchuan, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Economics of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that in the next step, we will continue to strengthen the leading role of planning and accelerate Progress in the construction of projects under construction, continue to promote the reform of the investment and financing system and mechanism, accelerate the construction of the national water network, and enhance the ability to guarantee water safety.

Full-year use of foreign capital increased or exceeded expectations

  Since the beginning of this year, with the global epidemic and the international situation still complex and severe, China has given full play to its advantages such as taking the lead in effectively controlling the epidemic, stabilizing the economy, and accelerating the construction of a new development pattern. It has steadily promoted the work of stabilizing foreign investment and has achieved remarkable results.

  ——The amount of foreign capital used is increased and the structure is optimized.

From January to July, the country attracted US$100.74 billion in foreign investment, a year-on-year increase of 30.9%.

Among them, the high-tech manufacturing and high-tech service industries attracted US$7.12 billion and US$25.15 billion of foreign investment, respectively, representing a year-on-year increase of 34.6% and 40.6%, which were higher than the average growth rate.

  ——Foreign companies operating in China are operating well and their profits are increasing.

From January to July, the operating income and total profits of foreign-funded industrial enterprises above designated size were 15.94 trillion yuan and 1.33 trillion yuan, an increase of 21.6% and 46.0% year-on-year, which were significantly better than the same period in 2019.

  ——Foreign-funded enterprises are optimistic and confident about the Chinese market.

A survey by the European Chamber of Commerce in China shows that 60% of European-funded enterprises will expand their business in China, an increase of 8 percentage points from last year.

According to a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 81% of US-funded companies expect to achieve positive growth in operating income in the Chinese market this year, and 66% of US-funded companies plan to increase investment in China, an increase of 5 and 3 percentage points respectively over 2020.

  "In the second half of the year, the good situation should continue. my country takes the lead in controlling the epidemic, the economy is stable and improving, and the industrial chain and supply chain are perfect. These are still favorable conditions for attracting foreign investment." said Liu Xiaonan, Director of the Foreign Investment Department of the National Development and Reform Commission. According to preliminary research and judgment, the amount of foreign investment used throughout the year can achieve a certain increase, which may be better than we expected."

  Liu Xiaonan revealed that at present, the National Development and Reform Commission is working closely with the Ministry of Commerce and other departments to formulate the 2021 version of the negative list for foreign investment access, which is planned to be released before the end of the year.

  "During the revision process, we adhere to the general direction of opening wider, wider areas, and deeper levels. While grasping the pace of opening up, we will further relax restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing and service industries, and at the same time make better use of free trade. The pilot zone expands the role of opening up'test plots', and promotes high-quality economic development through higher levels of opening up.” Liu Xiaonan said, preliminary considerations, compared with the 2020 version, the number of items in the 2021 version of the negative list of foreign investment access will be reduced, and restrictive measures It will be more precise, and the management framework and model will be further improved.

  Liao Ruiling