China will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises in the country amid the international trade turmoil brought about by the recent U.S. tariff hikes, Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, said on Wednesday.
Ling made the statement at a roundtable meeting in Beijing which was attended by representatives from over 80 foreign-funded enterprises and foreign chambers of commerce in China, for discussions on the impact of U.S. tariff hikes on the investment and operations of foreign-funded enterprises in China.
Ling stated that U.S. unilateralism and bullying acts of imposing excessive tariffs have caused strong dissatisfaction in the international community.
Such moves by the U.S. have severely undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system and the international economic and trade order, and disrupted stability of global industrial and supply chains, Ling said, adding that enterprises from various countries including China are all victims.
He noted that China will take resolute countermeasures to firmly safeguard its own interests and uphold international fairness and justice.
China hopes that foreign-funded enterprises will voice rational opinions, stay confident, weather the difficulties, turn crises into opportunities, and work together to overcome the impacts of unilateralism and protectionism, according to the official.
China will continue to expand high-standard opening up and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises in the country. It will also more proactively address the operational challenges of foreign-funded enterprises, strive to ensure stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, and push for the resolution of issues and concerns raised by foreign-funded enterprises, Ling added.
Confronted with a complicated external environment, the Chinese government has always prioritized addressing issues encountered by foreign-funded enterprises and has been committed to expanding opening up, said foreign attendees at the roundtable.
As China's foreign investment policies are continuous, stable and predictable, foreign investors are willing to continue to invest in China, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly tackle challenges with China, according to them.
The meeting was hosted by the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment.
China committed to protecting rights, interests of foreign-funded enterprises: vice minister
China committed to protecting rights, interests of foreign-funded enterprises: vice minister
