(Yicai Global) Dec. 30 -- China has made remarkable results in stabilizing foreign investment since this year's start, with the number of overseas-funded projects with an outlay of at least USD100 million up 15.5 percent on the year at 722 in the first 11 months.

China's business operations have been generally stable, with major indicators holding steady and moving in a positive direction and new achievements forthcoming in high-quality development, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said yesterday at the 2019 National Commercial Work Conference in Beijing, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The country has improved its laws and policy system, sped the easing of market access, revised the catalog of sectors welcoming overseas investment and bolstered promotion and protection of investment, Zhong explained.

China has also expanded into emerging markets, supported the construction of trade promotion platforms, confirmed 65 new bases for upgrade and transformation of foreign trade, and recognized six national public platforms for international marketing services. It has improved cross-border electric commerce policies and set up 24 new comprehensive pilot zones for transnational online sales. It has furthermore supported the import of advanced technological equipment and key parts, intensified pilot testing of innovative development of the service trade, promoted construction of service export bases and driven the transformation and upgrade of service outsourcing.

Construction of pilot free-trade zones and ports has progressed steadily, and multilateral and bilateral regional cooperation has continually broadened, with Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation conducted in a thoroughgoing way.

To promote consumption, China has pushed the development of convenience stores in 36 cities and built or renovated more than 1,200 wet markets, Zhong noted. The government has advanced e-commerce into rural areas, building over 1,700 county-level online retail service and logistics distribution centers. It has also supported the construction of 837 agricultural product cold-chain logistics projects.

Editor: Ben Armour