Chinese officials vow to boost imports and foreign investment

Speaking at the CHINA Development Forum (CDF) on Sunday, CHINESE Vice Premier Han Zheng promised to further boost imports, shorten the negative list and facilitate customs clearance.

Han was speaking with about 150 overseas delegates at the CDF, mostly CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, international organizations and renowned scholars. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler, who is co-chairing the forum, appreciated CHINA's leadership in globalization.

Han said CHINA's economic achievements are grounded in its opening-up policy. CHINA will hold on to an active import policy to promote trade balance, instead of pursuing a trade surplus.

CHINESE Vice Premier Han Zheng speaks at the CDF, March 24, 2019. /CDF Photo.

Han also pledged better protection of intellectual property rights, especially enHancing enforcement. He said CHINA will improve its business environment to make it law-based, international-oriented, and more convenient.

He also pointed out that global cooperation is the key to the future of the world.

In addition, Ning Jizhe, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that CHINA will expand the scope of foreign-invested industries and approve more landmark projects of foreign investment as soon as possible.

Ning said CHINA will further improve the foreign investment system, in accordance with the requirements of the Foreign Investment Law adopted by the National People's Congress, and accelerate the formulation of relevant regulations to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises.

CHINA will make further efforts on artificial intelligence. /VCG Photo

Ning also said the country will further improve the national innovation system, introduce national laboratories and manufacturing innovation centers in key areas, actively promoting the development of artificial intelligence.