Most European multinationals are confident about the prospects of the Chinese market

8月29日，中国贸促会举行例行发布会，发布会上，贸促会新闻发言人介绍，今年上半年，中国贸促会开展外资营商环境调研，共收到160余家欧洲跨国企业问卷反馈，其中，19%的在华欧洲企业表示扩大了现有生产业务规模，65%表示维持了生产业务规模。中国贸促会新闻发言人孙晓称，调研显示欧洲跨国公司持续看好中国市场，中国经济发展的韧性以及国内大市场对跨国公司保持强大的吸引力。

China remains¹ a key market for European companies as its economic resilience and large domestic market are vital for them to stay globally competitive, according to a survey released on Monday by the China Council for the Promotion² of International Trade.

中国国际贸易促进委员会8月29日发布的一项调研显示，欧洲跨国公司持续看好中国市场，中国经济发展的韧性以及国内大市场对欧洲跨国公司保持强大的吸引力。

About 19 percent of European companies said that they have expanded their production and business scale in China, while 65 percent said that they have maintained their current operational scale, the study said.

中国贸促会的调研显示，19%的在华欧洲企业表示扩大了现有生产业务规模，65%表示维持了生产业务规模。

The survey interviewed nearly 160 European companies on issues related to their business outlook, investment climate and market conditions in the first half of 2022.

中国贸促会就2022年上半年的商业前景、投资环境和市场状况等问题采访了近160家欧洲跨国企业。

The vast majority of European multinationals³ are confident in the prospects⁴ of the Chinese market, said Sun Xiao, spokesman for the Beijing-based CCPIT.

For instance, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE launched a new research center in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in June, to focus on research for its futuristic hydrogen-powered aircraft. German chemical group BASF SE gave the green light for the construction of its planned Verbund site chemical production project in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, in July.

In addition to implementing⁵ a new negative list for foreign investment to further broaden market access, the government abolished, revised or enacted⁶ 520 regulations to improve the legal environment for foreign investment. The government also ramped⁷ up efforts to ensure the legitimate⁸ rights and interests of foreign businesses, the Ministry⁹ of Commerce said last week.

除了实施新的外资准入负面清单，进一步扩大外资市场准入，还废除、修订、颁布了520项条例，优化外商投资法律制度。商务部上周表示，将加大对外商投资合法权益的保护力度。

China's advantages, including a complete industrial system, a lucrative¹⁰ market, social stability, and positive long-term economic fundamentals, as well as the smooth operation of China-Europe freight train services, have created a solid foundation for the growth of European companies, said Sang Baichuan, dean of the Institute of International Economy at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

对外经济贸易大学国际经济研究院院长桑百川表示，中国具有完整的工业体系，市场巨大、社会稳定，具有长期向好的经济基础，以及中欧班列的顺利运行，这些优势为欧洲跨国公司在华发展奠定了坚实的基础。

Trade between China and the European Union grew by 8.9 percent on a yearly basis to 3.23 trillion yuan ($466.79 billion) in the first seven months of 2022, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.

海关总署统计数据显示，2022年前7个月，中国与欧盟的贸易额同比增长8.9%，达3.23万亿元。

Meanwhile, as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of Korea, Sun, spokesman of the CCPIT, stressed that the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is highly complementary and has huge potential.

今年是中韩建交30周年，中国贸促会新闻发言人、中国国际商会秘书长孙晓强调，两国经贸合作互补性强，潜力巨大。

"Against the backdrop of multiple risks such as international geopolitical conflicts, slowing global economic growth, continued spread of the epidemic¹¹ and anti-globalization, companies from the two sides should jointly¹² maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, maintain regional market opening, and strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation," said Sun, who is also the secretary-general of the China Chamber¹³ of International Commerce.

孙晓称：“在国际地缘政治冲突、世界经济增长放缓、疫情持续蔓延、逆‘全球化’等多重风险交织叠加的背景下，中韩两国企业应共同维护产业链供应链稳定，保持区域市场开放，加强抗疫合作。”

With China and the ROK making substantial progress on the second phase of their free trade agreement negotiations¹⁴, Sun said that business communities of the two countries have broad prospects for cooperation in economy and trade, especially in the areas of the digital and marine¹⁵ economy, green innovation and industrial and supply chains.

Ko Kwang-ho, president of the China unit of Seoul-headquartered Korean Air Co, the largest airline by fleet size in the ROK, said the company expects to expand routes between China and the ROK, upgrade services and expand cooperation with Chinese airlines in the coming years.