新版外商投资负面清单(xīnbǎn wàishāng tóuzī fùmiàn qīngdān): New foreign investment negative lists

According to media reports an updated negative list on market access for foreign investment will be released soon. Easing the restrictions on foreign investments is a significant part of the country's further opening-up.

According to the media, the updated negative list on market access for foreign investment includes both a national foreign investment negative list and a negative list on market access for foreign investment in the pilot free trade zones. The negative list for the pilot free trade zones will be more open than the national negative list.

Besides the lists on the financial and automobile industries, that have already been announced, the restrictions on foreign investment will also be eliminated or relaxed in areas such as energy, resources, infrastructure, transportation, logistics and professional services.

Over the past five years, China has revised the national negative list twice, reducing 65 percent of the restrictive measures on foreign investors.

The latest revision will also set out a road map and timetable for the opening-up of industries in the next few years and clearly define the transition period, so that the national negative list and the negative list for the free trade zones are consolidated to form a uniform negative list for foreign investment that applies to the whole country.