Policy Interpretation: Several Measures of Guangzhou City to Optimize the Foreign Investment Environment and Intensify Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment
In order to thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on attracting and utilizing foreign investment, fulfill the work requirements of the provincial Party committee and provincial government, further optimize the foreign investment environment, enhance the level of investment promotion, and intensify efforts to attract foreign investment, the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, based on in-depth research and extensive consultation with enterprises, has formulated the “Several Measures of Guangzhou City to Optimize the Foreign Investment Environment and Intensify Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment” (hereinafter referred to as the “Several Measures”) to implement the “Opinions of the State Council on Further Optimizing the Foreign Investment Environment and Intensifying Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment” (Guofa [2023] No. 11).
The “Several Measures” focus on optimizing the foreign investment environment and intensifying efforts to attract foreign investment, proposing 12 policy measures across four areas.
The first part is about high-quality attraction and utilization of foreign capital, mainly including strengthening foreign investment attraction in key areas, steadily expanding the opening-up of the service sector, building high-level platforms for opening-up, and attracting foreign investment through multiple channels.
The second part concerns safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises, mainly including ensuring national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, strengthening the protection of foreign investors’ rights and interests, and intensifying administrative protection of intellectual property rights involving foreign parties.
The third part focuses on increasing support for foreign investment, mainly including facilitating the travel of international business personnel, creating a more relaxed and orderly regulatory environment, and optimizing rewards and preferential policies for foreign investment.
The fourth part involves innovating mechanisms for promoting foreign investment, mainly including improving the foreign investment promotion system, expanding domestic and overseas investment promotion services, and establishing overseas investment promotion liaison offices. It also aims to build the brand of the Guangzhou Investment Annual Conference.
First, emphasis is placed on implementing national strategies. The “Several Measures” highlight major national strategies such as the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the “Nansha Plan,” and the comprehensive pilot program for expanding the opening-up of the service sector, aiming to build high-level platforms for opening-up in our city. Practical and timely policy measures from these initiatives have been incorporated into relevant provisions, ensuring that the support measures are grounded and enhancing policy synergy.
Second, Guangzhou’s distinctive features are emphasized. The measures are closely aligned with Guangzhou’s strengths, including its status as a manufacturing powerhouse, the development of an international consumption center, the “Five-Linkage Strategy,” and the convention and exhibition economy. This promotes foreign investment in key industries, highlights the integration of foreign investment with consumption and exhibitions, and advances the coordinated development of trade, investment, talent acquisition, economic cooperation, and external intelligence under the “Five-Linkage Strategy,” fostering the integrated growth of trade, investment, and talent attraction.
Third, innovation in foreign investment promotion is prioritized. By focusing on key sectors and regions, efforts to attract foreign investment are intensified. The foreign investment promotion system is improved, domestic and overseas investment promotion services are expanded, and overseas liaison offices are established. The Guangzhou Investment Annual Conference is being branded as a signature event.
Fourth, optimizing the foreign investment environment is given prominence. The measures emphasize strengthening the protection of foreign investors’ rights and interests, implementing rewards and preferential policies for foreign investment, facilitating the travel of international business personnel, creating a more relaxed and orderly regulatory environment, and reinforcing regular communication between government and enterprises. Roundtable meetings for foreign-invested enterprises are held, and an entrepreneurial environment characterized by “one-click startup,” an investment environment of “plug-and-play,” and a business environment of “responsive service” are being cultivated.