Investment fair aims to strengthen global biz ties

Given uncertainties over global economic recovery, boosting investment confidence and promoting opening-up and cooperation have become more important, officials and business leaders said at an ongoing investment fair in Xiamen, Fujian province.

They made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 23rd China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which opened on Friday and will conclude on Monday. This year, companies from 102 countries and regions are participating in the fair, with Serbia, Brazil and Qatar invited as guests of honor.

Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said in his opening address that the fair has become an important platform for promoting international cooperation and mutually beneficial development, and the event has made positive contributions to building an open world economy.

Foreign companies have continued a bullish outlook of China's growth prospects and the overall trend of expanding their investment in China remains unchanged, Wang said.

In the first six months, China's actual use of foreign capital remained stable. Some 24,000 foreign-invested enterprises were newly established in the country, up 35.7 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

At the opening ceremony, Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said the fair this year fully showcased China's firm determination to promote high-level opening-up to the world and the willingness to promote international exchange and cooperation.

"The Ministry of Commerce will guide the stable and orderly development of foreign investment, help improve the quality and level of foreign investment and cooperation and continue to promote the high-quality development of economies involved in the Belt and Road Initiative," Chen said.

United States agribusiness giant Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, or ADM, said it has been actively seeking opportunities to expand its operations in China, an important market and investment destination for the company. The investment fair serves as a good platform for the company to exchange ideas with peers and seek potential cooperation.

The agricultural sectors of China and the United States are highly complementary, and the two countries stand as important trading partners for each other.

"China and the United States boast significant potential and a foundation for further cooperation in low-carbon and renewable agriculture. We hope to play a role in promoting those areas," said Xiong Haochen, vice-president of government relations in the Asia-Pacific region of ADM.

Meanwhile, Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, delivered a speech via video link at a forum of the investment fair. The economic ties between Belgium and China have been strong for many decades, and the two countries have been strong trading partners for years, he said.

"There are a lot of opportunities for Belgian companies in a variety of sectors in China, such as the clean technology, food health and pharmaceutical industries, among others," Dewit said.

Moreover, the booming e-commerce sector and huge Chinese consumer market consisting of a population of more than 1.4 billion will continue to produce new business opportunities for Belgium in the future, he added.