The Ministry of Commerce Photo: VCG

 
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday that if foreign-invested enterprises encounter any difficulty or problem in their investments and operations, they are welcome to report them through various platforms and the MOFCOM will strive to address their reasonable requests. 

Commenting on a recent move by the MOFCOM and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to remove restrictions on foreign-invested companies using domestic loans to conduct equity investment, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference that the move comes after relevant suggestions made by foreign businesses at roundtables held by the MOFCOM and aims to implement the Foreign Investment Law and encourage foreign businesses set up headquarter-like entities in China.

After the move, if a foreign-invested company has financing needs, it can apply for financing in accordance with guidelines on commercial bank merger and acquisition loan risk management, He said, adding that foreign businesses are welcome to report difficulties and problems they face to platforms of all levels or directly to the MOFCOM. 

"The Ministry of Commerce will strive to coordinate and promote the resolution of foreign-invested enterprises' reasonable requests and provide a favorable business environment for foreign-invested enterprises to invest and operate in China," He said. 

Also on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry (FM) said that investing in China represents an investment in the future and China welcomes foreign countries to seize the opportunities in the Chinese market.

Asked to comment on growing investments by Japanese, German and other firms in China in the fields such as electric vehicles and pharmaceuticals at a regular press briefing, FM Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the increased investment by foreign enterprises in China further proves the essence of mutually beneficial China-foreign economic cooperation.  

Guo noted that in the first 11 months of 2024, more than 50,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, an increase of 8.9 percent year-on-year and over the past five years, the return on foreign direct investment in China was about 9 percent, ranking among the top in the world. Guo said that China's steady economic growth and the continuous expansion of high-level opening-up are the biggest confidence for foreign businesses to increase their investments in China.

Guo highlighted that since 2024, China has streamlined its national negative list for foreign investment to 29 items, eliminated all restrictions on foreign access to the manufacturing sector, and fully implemented national treatment for foreign enterprises to optimize the business environment. The Central Economic Work Conference held in December has made strategic plans for steadily expanding institutional openness, deepening foreign investment, and promoting institutional reforms, he said.

"These steps help broaden the development space for foreign enterprises in China and boost their confidence," the spokesperson said, noting that several foreign institutions remained upbeat about the Chinese market in their global investment outlooks for 2025. "Investing China is investing in the future."