CHINESE Premier Li Keqiang said the country will further open its services, manufacturing and mining sectors to the outside world, the Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, even as foreign enterprises struggle with protectionist policies.

    The premier’s comments come as President Xi Jinping seeks to project China as the world’s leading free trade advocate and despite recent observations from some foreign firms that they are less welcome in China now than they were in the past.

    Li said Monday that China will streamline administrative procedures for foreign investments and ensure a level playing field for companies registered in the country, Xinhua quoted the premier as saying at a meeting held during the China Development Forum in Beijing.

    China supports foreign-funded firms to list and issue bonds in the country and participate in national science and technology programs and infrastructure projects, said Li.

    He invited more foreign companies to invest in China, cooperate with Chinese enterprises and engage in development opportunities, said Xinhua.

    Li said he hopes other countries overcome issues and friction caused by globalization by communicating effectively, according to Xinhua.

    Among the attendees were HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

    (SD-Agencies)