Full Breakdown
China Reaffirms Commitment to High-Standard Opening-Up, Boosts Support for Foreign Enterprises
6/17/2026, 10:28:17 PM
Core Announcement: Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emphasizes Continued Opening
At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced that China will “remain committed to advancing high-standard opening-up” and will provide “greater support and facilitation for foreign enterprises.” Lin made the remarks in response to a reporter’s question about recent business surveys that show foreign firms still view China as essential to their global competitiveness.
Background: Investment Trends and Reform Measures
China’s foreign-investment environment has been shaped by a series of reforms over the past few years. The government has repeatedly reduced the “negative list” that restricts foreign participation, relaxed market-access rules, and strengthened the rule of law for foreign-related sectors. These steps are intended to anchor investor expectations and reinforce confidence in the country’s institutional safeguards.
Data Highlights: Survey Results and Investment Figures
- U.S. companies: 80 % of respondents in a U.S.–China Business Council survey said operating in China is “very important” or “important” for global competitiveness.
- German automotive firms: A German Chamber of Commerce report documented a significant rise in R&D activities in China, driven by cost-saving and innovation goals.
- New foreign firms: The Ministry of Commerce reported 20,113 new overseas-invested enterprises were established in China from January to April, a 6.8 % year-on-year increase.
- Corporate example: Swedish engineering firm SKF Group relocated its world-largest deep-groove ball-bearing R&D line to China and opened a global technology and testing center, expanding its local research team.
Official Statements & Policy Summary
Lin highlighted China’s “full-fledged industrial system, diverse application scenarios, high-caliber talent pool, and ever-improving policy environment” as the foundation for foreign R&D and innovation. Economist Li Chang’an of the University of International Business and Economics noted that ongoing reforms—such as cutting the negative list and easing market access—provide “institutional safeguards for the development of foreign-funded enterprises.” The Chinese government therefore aims to turn manufacturing bases into “innovation hubs” and to position the domestic market as a “fitness club” for building global competitiveness.
Criticism & Counter-Narratives
Some commentators have raised “de-risking” and “unfair competition” narratives, suggesting that geopolitical tensions could prompt firms to reduce exposure to China. The surveys cited above, however, indicate that these concerns have limited influence on corporate decisions, as firms continue to expand R&D and investment in the Chinese market.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources present a consistent picture of rising foreign interest and supportive policy. No contradictory data on investment volumes or survey outcomes were identified, and the articles do not provide detailed sector-by-sector breakdowns of the new foreign-invested firms.
Verbatim Quotes
- “No one is better placed than enterprises, the real market players, to say whether more cooperation with China brings risks or opportunities. Whether to choose protectionism or embrace competition and pursue innovation, enterprises have let their actions speak for themselves,” — Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry Spokesman
- “China's full-fledged industrial system, diverse application scenarios, high-caliber talent pool, and ever-improving policy environment offer a fertile ground for global businesses to innovate.” — Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry Spokesman
- “China will stay committed to advancing high-standard opening-up, and provide more support and facilitation for foreign enterprises to "create in China," Lin said.” — Lin Jian, Foreign Ministry Spokesman
- “For example, China has consistently reduced the negative list for foreign investment, relaxed market access restrictions, and improved the rule of law in the foreign-related sector, solidifying the institutional safeguards for the development of foreign-funded enterprises, he said.” — Li Chang’an, Economist, University of International Business and Economics
- “China boasts a robust industrial foundation, a vast market space, and a consistently improving business environment. This provides foreign enterprises with solid confidence to deepen their presence in China. The country offers strong innovation capabilities, a wealth of application scenarios, and clear advantages in R&D and supply chains,” — Rickard Gustafson, President & CEO, SKF Group
Outlook: Future Support Measures
Chinese officials indicated that upcoming initiatives will focus on expanding the “global technology center” model, enhancing intellectual-property protections, and further streamlining approval processes for foreign R&D projects. These steps aim to sustain the upward trajectory of foreign investment and maintain China’s role as a central node in global innovation networks.
