Foreign companies watch the two sessions丨Foreign capital withdraws from China? Foreign companies are hotly discussing whether "the next 'China' will be China"

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 9 (Reporter Xie Yiguan, Wu Jiaju, Gong Hongyu) "Last year, China's economy grew at 5.2%, contributing one-third of the world's growth. China's engine is still strong, and the next 'China' will still be China .”

　　Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this when answering questions from Chinese and foreign reporters at the diplomatic-themed press conference of the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress.

　　Many senior executives of foreign companies expressed deep agreement with this statement when interviewed by China News Service.

Faced with the important information released in this year's government work report, they also believe that this will bring more growth opportunities to enterprises.

"The next 'China' will still be China"

　　In 2023, China's scale of attracting foreign investment has declined, which has also caused the outside world to start hyping "foreign investment leaving China."

　　But what cannot be ignored is that 53,766 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established across the country last year, a year-on-year increase of 39.7%.

While the number is growing, the investment structure is also being optimized. The proportion of investment in China's high-tech industries has reached 37.3%, hitting a record high.

　　Recent survey reports from some foreign chambers of commerce also show that the vast majority of companies investing in China have stated that they will not reduce investment, and a high proportion of companies will continue to regard China as their first or top three investment destination in the world.

　　It can be said that foreign businessmen remain highly enthusiastic about investing in China.

This can also be deeply realized when reporters from China News Network communicate with senior executives of foreign companies.

　　"Today's China is a 'hot spot' for global investment, and investing in China is investing in the future." Cai Menghong, general manager of Herbalife China, said that China's consumer market is resilient, has great potential, and is full of vitality, providing a broad market and long-term development for foreign companies in China. opportunity.

　　As one of the first foreign companies to enter China, Zhang Yihao, Global Executive Vice President of GE Healthcare and President and CEO of GE Healthcare China, observed that China’s medical health industry is one of the most promising markets in the world and believes that China’s medical industry is very Changes in one year will exceed those seen in the past hundred years.

　　"We believe that the next 'China' will be China, and the one that is faster than China is China's speed." Zhang Yihao said.

‘To-do list’ leads to more growth opportunities

　　In addition to being firmly optimistic about the Chinese market, senior executives of foreign companies are also deeply impressed by some statements in this year's government work report, believing that it has further enhanced their confidence in investing in China.

　　In the government work tasks for 2024, "expanding high-level opening up to the outside world and promoting mutual benefit and win-win results" was highlighted.

　　Xiao Song, Chairman, President and CEO of Siemens China, was deeply touched by this, “When various market entities can fully compete, cooperate together, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in a large market, I believe that the Chinese market will burst out with greater growth. potential, which will also add confidence to the business.”

　　In terms of increasing efforts to attract foreign investment, the government work report proposed to "continue to reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, comprehensively cancel restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, and relax market access for telecommunications, medical and other service industries."

　　Faced with this blockbuster information, Akihiro Fukaishi, chairman and president of Epson (China) Co., Ltd., believes that this means that China’s manufacturing market will be more open, and foreign-funded enterprises will be able to enjoy the same treatment and opportunities as domestic enterprises.

"China is a very large market with fast development and great potential. The Chinese government's tasks will bring more growth opportunities to Epson."

The "spring breeze" is coming, and foreign companies are increasing their "investment in China"

　　While providing greater development space, how to make more foreign-invested enterprises "willing to come, retain, and develop well"? Previously, the Chinese government has intensively deployed foreign investment work on multiple occasions and issued a series of measures in a step-by-step and focused manner. Measures to optimize the business environment.

　　Xiao Song noted that among them, more than 60% of the “24 Foreign Investment Policies” have been implemented or have made positive progress.

"This result reflects China's efforts to continuously optimize the business environment and actively implement its high-level opening-up commitments. We hope that all localities and departments can implement it to the letter, so that foreign investors can fully appreciate China's efforts to create a stable, The strength of a transparent and predictable business environment.”

　　The "spring breeze" for foreign investment has also touched the hearts of many foreign companies.

For some time, foreign-funded enterprises from various countries, including American companies, have continued to be optimistic about the development opportunities in the Chinese market and have increased their investment in China.

This year, many new foreign-invested projects have been signed or started. In January alone, there were 4,588 newly established foreign-invested enterprises across the country, a year-on-year increase of 74.4%.

　　According to official news, more foreign investment promotion measures are being deployed and implemented in 2024.

　　Zhu Jinhua, managing partner of VielTool's China business, also expects that by reducing administrative approvals, lowering corporate costs, strengthening intellectual property protection and other measures, China can attract more investment from domestic and foreign companies and expand the scale of the industry.

"This will provide a solid foundation and driving force for economic growth, and at the same time help build the 'Invest in China' brand." (End)