China on Wednesday vowed to build a better environment for foreign investors.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan made the pledge in a meeting with Robson Walton, chairman of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, in Beijing.

"The Chinese government will unswervingly advance the reform and opening-up and make efforts to create a better investment environment for foreign businesses," Wang said.

Wang said the Chinese market demand, driven by its 1.3 billion population, was robust and had huge potential.

Wang said the Chinese and U.S. economies were interdependent. "Neither can live without the other."

Wang called for the two countries to work more closely together and refrain from politicizing economic issues.

Walton said China's investment environment had been improving and becoming more attractive.

Walton said his company would continue to expand investment in China and play its own part in boosting U.S.-China economic relations.

The meeting came on the eve of Wal-Mart's annual board meeting, which will for the second time take place in China.

Wang hailed Wal-Mart's remarkable performance since entering the Chinese market in 1996, and growing to 189 stores in 101 cities by August 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2010)