Ministers at the Two Sessions talk about China's opening up

The closing meeting of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2019. [Photo: Xinhua/Rao Aimin]

Efforts to expand China's opening-up and the promotion of international cooperation were hot topics among the country's government ministers at this year's Two Sessions, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Liu Junchen, the vice chairman of Legislative Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that foreign investors will enjoy more freedom and convenience when they come to do business in China.

Liu Junchen, the vice chairman of Legislative Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. [Photo: China Plus]

"What's widely-known as national treatment is enjoyed by companies granted market access to another country. Based on China's draft foreign investment law, foreign investors will be afforded treatment no less than what's given to domestic investors when they apply for market access in China. This way, they will have improved freedom and convenience of investment," said the vice chairman.

This message was echoed by Qian Keming, the vice-minister of commerce.

Qian Keming, the vice-minister of commerce. [Photo: China Plus]

"We are firmly against protectionism in any form, and do not want to see security reviews abused as a way to obstruct normal investment activities. We are willing to work with relevant countries to create an open and transparent business environment and make the world economy an open one," said Qian.

In terms of intellectual property rights protection, Shen Changyu, the head of the State Intellectual Property Office, said that China will seek more international cooperation.

Shen Changyu, the head of the State Intellectual Property Office. [Photo: China Plus]

"China will focus on international cooperation on intellectual property rights, promote technological and trade exchanges between domestic and foreign companies, and boost the development of an open economy. China is exploring the establishment of an overseas intellectual property rights protection assistance center to step up our efforts to effectively safeguard China's intellectual property rights abroad," he said.

And cooperation in the field of science and technology between China and other countries is already on the agenda, according to China's Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.

China's Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.[Photo: China Plus]

"We will encourage and support the establishment of joint laboratories between China and countries along the Belt and Road, the construction of a cooperative science park with the Philippines, Indonesia, and another six countries, and the founding of five regional technological transformation centers with ASEAN, South Asia, and Arab countries, along with those in Central Asia and the Middle East. We will also invite to China young scientists from South Asia and ASEAN to cooperate with some other countries on innovation challenges," said the minister.

Alongside economic and trading relationships, China is strengthening its cooperation with countries around the world in the field on sports.

Gou Zhongwen, the minister for the General Administration of Sport. [Photo: China Plus]

"We are cooperating closely with 15 countries, including Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland to prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics. Some of China's athletes are training in those countries, and coaches from those countries have also come to work in China. More than 80 coaches from overseas have come to work in China, which is unprecedented," said Gou Zhongwen, the minister for the General Administration of Sport.