China eases foreign investment restrictions on negative list ahead of latest EU talks

Name: China’s most-senior diplomats, Wang and Yang, conclude back-to-back visits to Europe
Uploaded: 2020-12-16T04:22:21.000Z
Duration: 4 min 45 s
Description: China’s most-senior diplomats, Wang and Yang, conclude back-to-back visits to Europe

China’s 2020 list of industries that are either restricted or prohibited for foreign investors has been cut to 123, from 131 last year

Publication comes as China and the European Union gear up for latest investment talks, with market access still a stumbling block

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China’s 2020 list of industries that are either restricted or prohibited for foreign investors has been cut to 123. Photo: AFP

ReutersandSCMP Reporters

Published: 12:22pm, 16 Dec 2020Updated: 12:22pm, 16 Dec 2020

China has further reduced the number of sectors and industries that are off-limits to both Chinese and foreign investors in its latest so-called negative list for market access.

The 2020 list of industries that are either restricted or prohibited has been cut to 123, according to a document released by the National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday, compared with 131 sectors on the 2019 list.

Among the changes, foreign companies are now allowed to explore for, and produce, oil and gas in China. The restriction on foreign firms seeking to carry out carbon emission assessment in China was also lifted.

Industries not on the list are open for investment to all and require no approval.

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China’s most-senior diplomats, Wang and Yang, conclude back-to-back visits to Europe

Publication of the list comes as China and the European Union (EU) gear up for talks this week about a landmark investment treaty, which has stalled over market access, among other issues.

The EU has also been pushing China to meet high standards on market openness and the protection of labour rights and the environment.

Zhang Ming, Beijing’s envoy to Brussels, said last week that differences between the two sides have been narrowed and negotiations on market access and sustainable development were intensifying.