A screen shot of Huang Libin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, during the press breifing in Beijing on Thursday  Photo: GT

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on China's industry chains, as the disease's worldwide spread blocks the movement of people and creates huge risks for international supply chains, China's strong competitiveness has not changed, and the country will provide a better business environment and more services to attract more foreign companies, a Chinese official said on Thursday. 

Huang Libin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), made the remark at a press briefing in Beijing, adding that facts have proven that multinational companies' confidence and investment strategies in China have not changed despite the epidemic.

Huang admitted that due to the pandemic, many sectors in China had been hard hit, affecting the upper and lower parts of industry chains, which could damage and disrupt these chains.

But he said that "China is an indispensable and important pole of global industry chains, and 'made in China' has unique advantages. The large market size is a decisive factor to ensure that global industry chains stay in China."

Citing data from the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Huang said that as of March 25, investment in China by 40 percent of US enterprises would still increase, 17 percentage points higher than in February

"Tesla, which started production in its Shanghai factory within less than one year after construction began, sold more than 10,000 cars in March - a new record for the US new-energy vehicle maker," Huang said, adding that facts have proven that deep integration of global supply chains is far more resilient and flexible than segmentation.

To ensure the stability of industry and supply chains in China, the MIIT will release measures including enhancing international cooperation in fighting the pandemic, Huang said.