Xi says China not to change policy on foreign investment

China will not change its policy on foreign investment, President Xi Jinping said in a written interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Tuesday.

"Attracting foreign investment is our long-term policy. Such policy will not change," Xi said in the interview ahead of his U.S. visit. He left Beijing Tuesday afternoon for the state visit to the United States from Tuesday to Friday at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Nor will our protection of the lawful rights and interests of foreign companies in China, and our commitment to better services in favor of foreign companies in China," said the Chinese president.

He said foreign investment, which has provided China with capital, advanced technologies, managerial expertise and professional talents with international vision, all needed for the country's modernization drive, has played a significant role in promoting China's economic development.

China respects international business practice of non-discrimination and has fulfilled its national treatment and other commitments upon WTO accession, Xi said.

"We give equal and fair treatment to all market players, including foreign-invested companies in China, and welcome all forms of cooperation between transnational corporations and their Chinese counterparts," he said.

In recent years, China has taken a series of investment facilitation steps, significantly cancelling restrictive items and adopting a management model based on pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list approach.

"By so doing, we aim to timely address the legitimate concerns of foreign investors, protect their lawful rights and interests, and foster a level playing field with open and transparent laws and policies, along with a more efficient administration," according to the president.

According to surveys by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)and other authoritative international bodies, China remains the world's most attractive investment destination, Xi said.

"Claims about a changing investment climate in China, and foreign investors losing confidence in China are not backed by facts," Xi said.

In 2014, China received 120 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment, more than any other country, and continued to be the leading destination among the developing countries for 23 years running.

In the first eight months of this year, the actual amount of foreign investment used by China totalled 85.3 billion dollars, up by nine percent from the corresponding period of the previous year.

"China will further ease market access for foreign investment," said the president.

"At the same time, we will improve regulations on foreign investment, amend relevant laws and better protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign investment in China," Xi said.

"It is my hope that other countries will keep their markets open to Chinese investors," Xi said.

"We are against protectionism and discriminative policies of all forms, stand ready to properly settle economic and trade disputes with relevant countries through consultation, and promote a balanced multilateral economic and trade system that focuses on development and seeks win-win results," he said.

Xi said China's Internet is booming, providing immense opportunities and market horizon for businesses around the world.

"We welcome all foreign companies in China and will respect and protect their lawful rights and interests provided that they abide by the laws and regulations of China and do nothing to undermine China's national interests and interests of Chinese consumers," he said.

Xi said the Internet has turned the world into a global village by profoundly changing the way people live and work and vigorously boosting social development.

"Though highly global, this new frontier is by no means a land beyond law. Rule of law also applies to the Internet, with the need to safeguard a country's sovereignty, security and development interests as relevant as in the real world," he said.

He called on the international community to work together to build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace on the basis of the principles of mutual respect and mutual trust.

Meanwhile, Xi said China recognizes the positive role of foreign Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), welcomes and supports their development in China, and stands ready to provide them with necessary facilitation and assistance.

"Taking seriously the provision of services to and regulation of foreign NPOs in China, we will regulate, in accordance with law, their activities and protect their lawful rights and interests," Xi said, adding that all foreign NPOs should obey Chinese law and carry out their activities on a law-abiding and orderly basis. Endi