China ready to remove barriers for foreign companies, Premier Li Qiang tells international forum

At China Development Forum, Li highlights potential of urbanisation to boost consumer spending and create opportunities for global investors

Beijing is ‘carefully’ studying problems faced by businesses, including market access, public tendering and cross-border data flow, he says

Reading Time:4 minutes

Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:19am, 24 Mar 2024Updated: 8:56pm, 24 Mar 2024

China is ready to roll out new rules to bring down some of the barriers faced by foreign companies, Premier Li Qiang told global business leaders in Beijing on Sunday, while highlighting the potential in urbanisation for overseas investors.

In his keynote address to the China Development Forum, Li said Beijing would create more opportunities for global investors through macroeconomic policy, urbanisation, industrial upgrades and the transition to a green economy.

“The fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term economic growth remain unchanged,” he said, playing up prospects for the world’s second-largest economy.

Li said the Chinese government was “carefully” studying some of the issues raised frequently by businesses, including market access, public tendering and cross-border data flow.

“Some of the questions have been basically resolved, and for some others we are still working on solutions to ensure a good settlement,” he said, two days after China eased security checks for cross-border data transfers.

He also said Beijing would make government services more efficient and protect the lawful rights and interests of businesses of all types.

“We are convinced that a more open China will bring more opportunities of win-win cooperation to the world,” he said.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x