Chinese vice president stresses promoting high-standard opening up

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng stressed efforts to promote high-standard opening up, ensure continuity and stability of domestic and foreign policies, and get deeply involved in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation.

Han made the remarks on Monday and Wednesday during his meetings with leaders of multinationals who attended the China Development Forum 2023 held in Beijing.

The country will strive to create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment to provide even more business opportunities for foreign enterprises, Han added.

Multinational companies have made contributions to China's social and economic development, and witnessed and participated in China's opening up, Han said, stressing that the country will continue to open up wider no matter how the international landscape evolves.

Han said that with a complex and volatile external environment, it is crucial for Chinese and foreign business communities to strengthen cooperation.

In the first two months of 2023, foreign direct investment into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, reached nearly 40 billion U.S. dollars. The sound economic fundamentals for long-term growth remain unchanged, said the vice president.

"We are upbeat about achieving the 5 percent full-year growth target," Han added.

Han expressed the hope that foreign enterprises remain confident in investment in and cooperation with China, take root in the Chinese market, and share the opportunities brought by China's new development.

The leaders of multinationals said that China's economic development has been the most important stabilizer for the world economy in recent years, and many multinationals have benefited from China's reform and opening up.

They expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's efforts in promoting institutional reforms, optimizing the business environment, and protecting the rights and interests of foreign investors, and also said they are optimistic about China's growth potential and will increase investment in China for win-win development.