Foreign Ministry: China, EU can work together

China said on Monday it hopes the European Union will provide a fair, transparent, stable and predictable market environment for foreign business, including Chinese enterprises.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks after the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU launched its first report on Friday, summarizing Chinese companies' rapid development in Europe and recommending an improvement in the EU business environment.

Noting EU members have always been champions for the market economy, multilateralism and free trade, Geng said "we hope Europe will sincerely listen to Chinese companies and continue maintaining an open market for investment".

He called on China and Europe to remain open and inclusive to each other and expand cooperation, saying it conforms to the interests of both sides and will inject stability and positive energy into the world.

The Report on the Development of Chinese Enterprises in the EU (2019), jointly drafted by the CCCEU and Roland Berger Management Consultants, showed Chinese enterprises active in the EU have created 250,000 local jobs.

Chinese companies consider EU countries as more than a sales market. A number of Chinese firms have established research and development centers and factories in the EU, counting on long-term growth.

It noted with regard to industrial development, Chinese companies have driven the upgrade of European industries' value chain in all aspects.

However, Chinese companies encounter challenges and constraints in Europe, including increasing censorship of Foreign Direct Investment, restrictions on specific areas such as energy, artificial intelligence, information and communications technology as well as the lack of regular communication channels between Chinese companies and local governments, it added.

The report urged EU governments to develop an larger perspective of industry and its long-term development, keep the EU a free market without politicizing business issues and build a navigable, predictable and transparent business environment.