The business environment in China continues to improve, and the actually utilized foreign capital in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality was $10 billion in 2020, which is about the same as in 2019.
In 2020, 270 foreign-invested companies were added in Chongqing, a 21 percent increase year-on-year. Also, contractual foreign investments worth $5 billion were signed, an increase of 60 percent year-on-year, and the foreign direct investment was $2 billion.
To maintain stability in foreign trade and foreign investment amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Chongqing released several measures to meet foreign-owned companies' demands and provide them with investment services.
Last year, Chongqing's officials communicated with leaders of transnational corporations and attracted an additional foreign investment of $590 million. Chongqing also screened projects with more than $5 million in foreign investment to provide follow-up services.
The municipality released complaint guidance for foreign investors and handled 83 complaints last year. Authorities also canceled several registration and approval requirements for foreign investors to make investing in Chongqing more convenient.
John Edwards, the UK trade commissioner for China, praised Chongqing over its rise as a burgeoning center in intelligent manufacturing.