China remains a coveted place for foreign investors: FM

China welcomes more foreign friends to come to invest in the country, share China's growth opportunities and development dividends, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

The spokesperson made the remarks at a regular press briefing on Thursday in response to recent surveys, done by the British Chamber of Commerce and the German Chamber of Commerce in China, which said that most UK and German companies expressed optimism about investing in China.

The reports revealed that 76 percent of UK companies intend to maintain or expand their investments in China, while 92 percent of German companies will continue operations in China, more than half of them planning to increase their investments in the next two years.

The spokesperson reaffirmed that many overseas companies intend to expand investments in China, demonstrating their confidence in the country through concrete actions.

Despite increasing economic uncertainties in the world, China is committed to pursuing high-quality development and a higher level of opening-up. As a result, the economy has shown stability and steady progress, continuing to act as a "stabilizing anchor" and engine of the global economy.

During the Central Economic Work Conference held earlier this month, China sent a strong signal to proceed with high-standard opening-up, the spokesperson said. The country will continue to pursue steadfast growth of its economy, accelerate its path of modernization, and promote global development and prosperity. China's confidence in sharing development opportunities with all countries will remain unchanged, the spokesperson noted.

In the first three quarters this year, China's economy grew by 4.8 percent, placing it among the top-performing major economies. In the first 11 months, total imports and exports rose by 4.9 percent year-on-year, while the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increased by 8.9 percent. China is on track to achieve its annual economic and social development goals, the spokesperson said.

China will continue to host the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the China International Supply Chain Expo, providing 100 percent tariff-free access for products from all least-developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, the spokesperson noted. Additionally, China has lifted all restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, leading to an 11.89-percent increase in the country's openness index since 2008.

China is already a major trade partner for more than 150 countries and regions in the world, consistently holding its position as the world's second-largest recipient of foreign direct investment, the spokesperson noted.