The 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will take place offline in Shanghai from November 5th to 10th. What are the new highlights to look forward to? Considering the decrease in China's foreign investment this year, what measures have been taken to attract and utilize foreign capital? The Ministry of Commerce held a routine press conference on the 2nd to respond to recent economic and trade hot topics.

Exhibition industry shows a comprehensive recovery trend

New and old friends gather as scheduled. Guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations will converge at this year's Import Expo. There are 72 countries and international organizations participating in the national pavilions. The enterprise exhibition has attracted over 3,400 companies from 128 countries and regions. Nearly 410,000 professional visitors have registered. The expected attendance at the Hongqiao International Economic Forum is anticipated to exceed 8,000 people.

The exhibition display has significantly increased in both quantity and quality. The total exhibition area of the enterprise reached a new high at 367,000 square meters, with nearly 95% dedicated to specially designed booths. The number of Fortune Global 500 companies, industry leaders, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises participating in the exhibition is the highest ever recorded. Additionally, the exhibition area and the number of projects in the innovation incubation zone have doubled compared to the previous edition.

According to the statistics from the Ministry of Commerce, from January to September this year, a total of 3,248 various exhibitions were held in professional venues within China. This marks a 1.8-fold increase compared to the same period last year and a 32.4% growth compared to 2019.

Research to promote the reasonable reduction of the negative list for foreign investment access

"We have confidence in the long-term positive development of foreign investment absorption," said Shu Juetin. She mentioned that in the first nine months of this year, the scale of foreign investment absorbed by China decreased compared to the same period last year but remained at a relatively high level compared to the past decade. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid growth in the number of newly established foreign-funded enterprises, confirming the sustained enthusiasm of foreign investors in China.

Regarding opening up to the outside world and utilizing foreign investment, Shu stated that China will explore measures to reasonably reduce the negative list for foreign investment access. This includes fully removing restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector and expanding market access for foreign investment in modern services. Efforts will be made to eliminate implicit barriers affecting foreign investment access, ensuring equal access for domestic and foreign investments in sectors outside the negative list according to the law. Collaboration with various departments and regions will be carried out to implement the 24 stabilizing measures for foreign investment policies issued by the State Council.

Furthermore, China will deepen the comprehensive pilot programs for expanding openness in the service industry, aiming to establish a service industry open system that aligns with international high-standard economic and trade rules. Efforts will be intensified to innovate and enhance national-level economic development zones, creating a key stronghold for stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

进博会有何新亮点？吸引外资有何新举措？

第六届进博会将于11月5日至10日在上海全面线下举办，有哪些新亮点值得期待？今年以来，中国吸引外资规模同比下降，吸收和利用外资还有哪些工作举措？商务部2日举行例行新闻发布会回应近期经贸热点。

展览业呈现全面恢复态势

新老朋友如约而至。来自154个国家、地区和国际组织的来宾将齐聚本届进博会。国家展有72个国家和国际组织集中展示。企业展吸引来自128个国家和地区的3400多家企业参展。已注册的专业观众近41万名。虹桥论坛参会规模预计将超过8000人。

展览展示量质齐升。企业展展览面积创新高，达36.7万平方米，特装展台面积占比近95％。参展的世界500强、行业龙头企业以及创新型中小企业，数量均为历届之最，创新孵化专区展览面积和项目数量较上届增加一倍。

商务部统计显示，今年1至9月，中国境内专业场馆共举办各类展会3248场，同比增长1.8倍，较2019年同期增长32.4％。

研究推动合理缩减外资准入负面清单

“我们对吸收外资长期向好发展有信心。”束珏婷说，今年前9个月，中国吸收外资规模同比下降，但仍处于近10年同期较高水平。特别是新设外资企业数较快增长，印证外商长期在华投资热度不减。

谈及对外开放和利用外资，束珏婷说，中国将研究推动合理缩减外资准入负面清单，全面取消制造业领域外资准入限制措施，扩大现代服务业外资市场准入。努力破除影响外资准入的隐性壁垒，保障内外资依法平等进入负面清单之外的领域。会同各部门、各地方落实好国务院出台的24条稳外资政策措施。

此外，还将深化国家服务业扩大开放综合示范试点，率先建设与国际高标准经贸规则相衔接的服务业开放体系。深入推进国家级经开区创新提升，打造稳外贸稳外资“主阵地”。

来源 | 新华社
翻译 | 林佳岱