China to provide greater support, facilitation for foreign enterprises: spokesman

China will remain committed to advancing high-standard opening-up and will provide more support and facilitation for foreign enterprises, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Lin made the remarks when asked to comment on the greater importance foreign enterprises attach to their China operations, as shown in recent business reports.

According to a report by the U.S.-China Business Council, 80 percent of U.S. companies surveyed believe operating in China is "very important" or "important" to enhancing their global competitiveness.

Previously, a survey report released by the German Chamber of Commerce in China also showed that the share of German automotive companies conducting research and development in China has increased significantly, in an effort to accelerate innovation and reduce costs.

Many believe this suggests that political narratives such as "de-risking" from China and "unfair competition" have limited sway over foreign firms’ decisions.

"No one is better placed than enterprises, the real market players, to say whether more cooperation with China brings risks or opportunities. Whether to choose protectionism or embrace competition and pursue innovation, enterprises have let their actions speak for themselves," said Lin.

"China's full-fledged industrial system, diverse application scenarios, high-caliber talent pool, and ever-improving policy environment offer a fertile ground for global businesses to innovate. More and more foreign enterprises are opting for 'research and development in China,' turning their Chinese manufacturing bases into innovation hubs and using China's vast market as a 'fitness club' to build up their global competitiveness. China will stay committed to advancing high-standard opening up, and provide more support and facilitation for foreign enterprises to 'create in China,'" said the spokesman.

China to provide greater support, facilitation for foreign enterprises: spokesman

The first 5,000-tonne-class intelligent eco-friendly vessel is set to begin trial navigation on Wednesday on the Pinglu Canal in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a landmark waterway that stands as the country's first digitalized smart canal linking rivers with the sea.

The vessel, named "Beigang Yunhe 002," is a dual-purpose carrier designed for both container and bulk cargo. Tailor-made to maximize single-lock throughput on the Pinglu Canal, it is equipped with intelligent features such as route planning, collision alert systems, and remote-sensing monitoring. A single canal lock can accommodate up to six such ships at a time.

The first batch of four such intelligent vessels has already been completed at a shipyard in Guigang City of Guangxi. Trial navigations will be rolled out successively for each unit, with final delivery slated for this August.

Stretching 134.2 kilometers from the Pingtang River in Guangxi's Hengzhou City to the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea, the Pinglu Canal is the backbone of the country's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a key initiative that enhances global trade connectivity for China's western inland regions.

The waterway is expected to open to full navigation this September. Once it becomes fully operational, the Pinglu Canal will facilitate the direct shipment of goods from Guangxi and the neighboring Yunnan and Guizhou provinces through the Xijiang river system to ports in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi, rather than routing them through Guangdong in south China. This strategic shift is projected to significantly reduce the shipping distance by approximately 560 kilometers.

First smart ship for China's flagship Pinglu Canal project set for trial voyage