On October 20, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Ling Ji chaired a roundtable session on policy interpretation for foreign-invested enterprises in Beijing. Representatives from over 170 foreign-invested enterprises and foreign chambers of commerce in China attended the meeting. Officials from relevant departments of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and MOFCOM provided policy briefings and responded to concerns and inquiries raised by foreign-invested enterprises.

Ling Ji noted that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China convened today with great ceremony, set to chart the course for China’s development over the next five years. He highlighted that during the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5%. Despite a complex and challenging external environment, the Chinese economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience, enormous potential, and sustained vitality—offering broad opportunities and strong prospects for foreign-invested enterprises. Ling Ji further explained that in September this year, after extensive consultations with businesses and the public and drawing on international best practices, Chinese authorities issued the Notice on Implementing Domestic Product Standards and Related Policies in Government Procurement following careful deliberation. The Notice stipulates that all market entities are entitled to equal access to relevant supportive policies, thereby effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises in government procurement processes. He emphasized that when formulating specific product standards in the future, the Chinese government will ensure full compliance with laws and regulations, transparency, and fairness, and warmly welcomes comments and suggestions from all stakeholders, including foreign-invested enterprises. On the issue of export controls, Ling Ji underscored that China’s imposition of export controls on certain items is a responsible measure aimed at firmly upholding world peace and regional security and stability, as well as fulfilling its international non-proliferation obligations. At the same time, China will continue to process export license applications for compliant exports in accordance with the law, thereby contributing to the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

Participating foreign-invested enterprises acknowledged that international trade and investment currently face mounting challenges. They expressed appreciation for the Chinese government’s continued commitment to opening up and its firm resolve and concrete actions to stabilize foreign investment and promote economic development. They voiced expectations that the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan will create even broader development opportunities for foreign-invested enterprises, and affirmed their willingness to further increase investment in China, deepen cooperation, and contribute to China’s high-quality development.