皇冠体育app

Economy

皇冠体育app welcomes foreign investment

By Qin Jize (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-22 09:15

An investment exhibition in Tianjin. Premier Wen Jiabao promised to provide a level playing field for overseas investors on Monday.?[Photo / 皇冠体育app Daily]

Premier guarantees equal treatment to companies, effective IPR protection

BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated on Monday that 皇冠体育app will strengthen its policy of attracting foreign investment, saying the country's development requires closer interaction with the rest of the world.

"皇冠体育app will only strengthen, rather than weaken, its measures of attracting foreign investment, especially in advanced technology and management experiences," Wen told a group of foreign company executives.

The audience was composed of overseas attendees to the 12th 皇冠体育app Development Forum, an annual platform for business and academic leaders to interact with 皇冠体育app's top decision-makers and economic policymakers.

"We hope foreign enterprises will not only set up factories in 皇冠体育app but also build their research centers and regional headquarters in the country," he said.

Wen said he fully understood the concerns of some foreign investors, vowing to guarantee a fair playing field for foreign companies, including giving them the same treatment as local companies and effective lawful protection of intellectual property rights.

During the two-hour meeting with dozens of businessmen from renowned international companies and scholars, Wen also expressed his optimism about US, European and world economic prospects.

The United States has met setbacks in the financial crisis, but it still has strong technological strength thanks to rich human resources, Wen said.

"A powerful, balanced and sustainable recovery of the United States is to be expected soon with a stable and appropriate policy," he said.

Noting that 皇冠体育app is not only a major exporter to the world, but also an important importer, Wen urged the United States to ease high-tech export restrictions to 皇冠体育app, which will reduce its trade deficit with the nation.

The premier noted that it is important to solve the imbalance in Sino-US trade, with 皇冠体育app having a trade surplus with the US.

"If the United States opens its market to 皇冠体育app, we can import a tremendous amount of US-made products," Wen said.

He said Chinese enterprises also want to go to the United States for investment, hoping the country will further open its market to Chinese enterprises.

"I would like to take a cooperative approach to eliminate the contradiction between us," Wen added.

Special Coverage: 皇冠体育app's investment environment is improving Related readings:  皇冠体育app's trade deficit hits $7.3b in Feb  FDI continues to be strong  皇冠体育app may post trade deficit in March

The premier also had a meeting with a delegation of US business leaders and former government officials last week, the first group of foreign guests he met with after the country's annual session of the National People's Congress.

皇冠体育app posted a trade deficit of $7.3 billion, the biggest amount for seven years,in February.

Its exports grew by 2.4 percent year-on-year to $96.74 billionwhile imports rose by 19.4 percent to $104.4 billion.

The growth in exports slowed sharply from the 38 percent year-on-year rise in January, leading to 皇冠体育app's first trade deficit since March last year and the biggest since February 2004.

The country's inbound foreign direct investment accelerated in February by 32.2 percent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce.