Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday presided over an executive meeting of the State Council to review and approve the 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment and study policies to address structural imbalances in key industries.
The meeting highlighted the crucial role of foreign enterprises in employment, exports, and industrial upgrading, called for practical measures to stabilize existing foreign investment while attracting new inflows, pledged to expand market access by opening more sectors, deepening pilot programs, and implementing the removal of foreign investment restrictions in manufacturing.
The government also aims to enhance service industry opening-up by optimizing national pilot programs for expanding service sector access and broadening the list of encouraged foreign investment industries, said the State Council.
Strengthening the “Invest in China” brand is also a priority, with increased support for reinvestment by foreign firms in China, encouragement for foreign equity investments, and streamlined foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A) regulations, it said.
The meeting highlighted the importance of ensuring fair treatment by providing equal opportunities for foreign and domestic enterprises in government procurement, expanding financing channels for foreign companies, and enhancing intellectual property protection.
Efforts will also be made to facilitate foreign business operations by improving services for foreign investment projects and providing greater convenience for foreign business personnel in entry, exit, and residence, it said.
In addition, addressing structural imbalances in key industries was another major topic in the meeting.
The State Council underscored the need for a balanced approach to resolving these issues while fostering high-quality industrial development. It emphasized optimizing industrial layouts by strengthening standard-setting, promoting industry restructuring and consolidation, and phasing out inefficient and outdated production capacity while increasing high-end capacity. The government will also enhance market oversight by improving regulatory frameworks, promoting industry self-discipline, and maintaining a fair, competitive market environment that supports innovation and high-quality enterprises.