Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi said Tuesday that China welcomes the
world famous transnational firms to expand investment and
cooperation in China, especially in her country's central and
western areas.
During in her meeting with Louis Schweitzer, Renault Group
chairman and chief executive officer, she said China has made great
progress in its economic and trade cooperation with foreign
countries since it adopted economic opening and reform policy and
its investment environment was further improved with China's access
into the World Trade Organization in late 2001.
Despite an overall rapid economic growth, China's economic
growth is nevertheless uneven among different regions, and most
foreign investors inclined to focus their investment on China's
coastal areas rather than the interior areas, Wu acknowledged.
Currently, she added, China is implementing a crucial strategy
of developing the western region and rejuvenate the rust-belt
northeast industrial base. China hopes the foreign investors will
seize the opportunity and expand their business in its central and
western areas, Wu said.
Schweitzer, who is in China for discussing a cooperative project
with China's Dong Feng Motor Corporation, briefed the Chinese
vice-premier on Renault's investment plan in China.
Renault Group, first founded in 1898, is France's second largest
automaker. It now ranks among the top ten automobile manufacturers
in the world.
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2004)