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E-mail China.org.cn, May 11, 2024
The Poster News APP:
MOFCOM has established a roundtable mechanism for foreign-funded enterprises, and organized and convened a number of roundtable meetings for foreign enterprises this year. Could you please introduce the results of the roundtable meetings for foreign enterprises in providing them with service guarantees? What are the plans going forward?
Ji Xiaofeng:
Thank you for your questions and interest in the roundtable events. In accordance with the plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, in July 2023, MOFCOM relied on the foreign trade and investment coordination service mechanism to upgrade and establish a roundtable meeting system for foreign-funded enterprises to further strengthen regular communication and exchanges with foreign-funded enterprises and foreign business associations. The roundtable meetings do not set restrictions and foreign companies are encouraged to speak freely. After the meetings, the problems and demands reported by the companies are compiled and managed with follow-ups on the results, which has been highly praised by foreign-funded companies. Overall, the roundtable meetings have played three kinds of roles:
First, the roundtable meetings built unimpeded channels of expression and fully listened to the opinions and suggestions of enterprises. So far, MOFCOM has held 24 roundtable meetings for foreign-funded enterprises, with more than 600 foreign-funded enterprises and foreign business associations participating. To date, nine meetings have been held this year, including roundtable meetings held overseas to communicate with foreign companies in Germany, France and Denmark, and roundtable meetings held domestically and themed around such fields as medicine and consumer goods. At the roundtable meetings, MOFCOM, together with relevant departments, acquired detailed understandings of the issues, demands, opinions and suggestions of foreign-invested enterprises from various countries and industries, through face-to-face, point-to-point consultation, providing an important reference for formulating policies and optimizing services.
Second, the roundtable meetings have strengthened policy interpretation and fully publicized China's business environment. Since last year, we have relied on activities such as roundtable meetings to explain comprehensive policies, such as the 24 specific pro-foreign investment measures and the new action plan issued by the General Office of the State Council to attract foreign investment, special policies targeting cross-border flows of data and environmental protection, and regional opening-up policies including the ones for promoting integrated economic development of Chengdu and Chongqing. These efforts allow foreign-funded enterprises to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China's major policies and measures and fully seize new investment opportunities in China.
Third, the roundtable meetings have adhered to a problem-oriented approach and coordinated efforts to resolve pressing difficulties and problems. Based on the pains and difficulties reported by foreign-funded enterprises at the roundtable meetings, MOFCOM established a list of issues and worked with relevant departments to tackle the problems. The establishment of the roundtable mechanism has promoted multiple departments to introduce measures to benefit enterprises, including facilitating foreigners to come to China, outlining clear requirements for cross-border flows of data, and extending preferential policies on tax-deductible allowances and subsidies for foreign nationals in accordance with relevant national regulations.
Moving forward, MOFCOM will give further play to the role of the foreign investment enterprise roundtable meeting system, and build the roundtable meetings into an important platform for candid communication, pragmatic exchanges and problem-solving between the government and enterprises. Thank you.
Xie Yingjun:
The final question, please.
