Probes not targeting foreign enterprises

The government's probes into baby formula and pharmaceutical giants were not targeting foreign enterprises but improving the investment environment, Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, told a news briefing on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Public Security is looking into Britain's largest pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline, over bribes to officials and doctors to boost sales and prices of its drugs in China.

On July 1, the National Development and Reform Commission started an investigation into the price of infant formula products sold by companies, including Swiss-based Nestle SA's Wyeth, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co, Abbott Laboratories and Royal FrieslandCampina NV.

The government firmly opposes bribes and enterprises breaching Chinese laws will be punished, Shen said. He added that China's active stance in attracting foreign direct investment has not changed and the probes showed the government's determination to optimize investment.