China is becoming increasingly attractive to investment thanks to its significant improvement in business environment in recent years, foreign economic experts and scholars told People’s Daily.
China joined the world’s top 10 most improved economies for ease of doing business for the second year in a row, according to the World Bank’s annual doing business report released on Oct. 24.
The country ranked 31st among 190 economies globally on the ease of doing business rankings, a significant improvement compared with the 46th place in last year’s rankings, the report said.
China has achieved great success in improving business environment, leaping from the 78th place two years ago to the 31st place, said Marcin Piatkowski, a senior economist at the World Bank, attributing the remarkable achievement to the Chinese government’s comprehensive business environment reform.
Doing Business 2020, a World Bank flagship publication, documented regulatory reforms implemented globally during the 12 months to May 1, 2019. Overall 115 economies around the world implemented 294 business regulatory reforms making it easier to do business, the report showed.
China has shown a notable improvement in eight areas including starting a business and dealing with construction permits, the report said. For example, the country streamlined the process of dealing with construction permits and getting electricity, and reducing the time for administrative approval.
China has made encouraging progress in improving its business environment. In terms of nurturing new businesses, it ranks higher, said Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University.
As the report points out, the Chinese government has achieved concrete results in supporting start-ups, which indicates the country’s focus on technological innovation.
China unveiled its first regulation on improving business environment on recently. Drawing on past experience and aligning with advanced international levels, the regulation codifies the country’s reform measures that have been proven workable, obtained people’s satisfaction and supported by the market entities. It provides an institutional guarantee to improve business environment.
The World Bank welcomes China’s measures to further improve business environment, said Marcin. Beijing and Shanghai have implemented a slew of ground-breaking reform measures, and their successful experiences are expected to be applied in other cities in the country, he pointed out.
China still has potential to improve its business environment indicators such as credit and cross-border trade, Marcin noted, adding that the improvement in business environment will help boost the high-quality development of the country’s economy.
Wang Jiangyu, associate professor at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore, hailed China’s regulation on improving business environment as a far-reaching reform measure. It will legally guarantee entrepreneurship and transactions in the country and promote the transformation of the government’s role, Wang added.
At present, some international institutions have lowered their expectations on the growth of the world economy amid rising protectionism.
China, as one of the major engines driving world economic growth, will boost its own growth and carry positive implications for global economic development through optimizing its business environment.
The World Bank’s cross-border indicators showed that China is striving to reduce the cost of importing goods, demonstrating its resolve to expand opening-up, Marcin pointed out.
Katsuyuki Hasegawa, chief economist at Mizuho Research Institute Ltd., said China is translating challenges into opportunities through continuous efforts to promote structural reform.
The country has taken measures to improve business environment, including relaxing regulations for foreign enterprisers, opening its market to the world and deepening structural reform, Katsuyuki noted, adding that China’s drive for greater openness is of great significance to the stability and development of the world economy.
Kiyoshi Fushitani, senior managing executive officer of Japan’s ORIX Corporation, shared some observations about improvement in China’s business environment as the company’s businesses entered China since the 1980s.
Kiyoshi noted that he really felt the Chinese government’s emphasis on business environment, from release of relevant laws and regulations to vigorous efforts of governments at all levels.
An enabling business environment is a beneficial to both Chinese and foreign enterprises, and will create a more open market environment and provide opportunities for more foreign companies to develop in China, he added.
“China has never stopped efforts to expand opening-up, and we are impressed by its firm resolve to further open its market to the world”, Kiyoshi exclaimed.
中国开放的脚步从未停止
世界银行北京时间10月24日发布的《2020营商环境报告》显示，由于大力推进改革，中国营商环境在全球190个经济体中排名第三十一位，较去年的第四十六位大幅提升，连续两年入列全球营商环境改善幅度最大的十大经济体。接受本报记者采访的世界经济领域专家学者表示，近年来中国营商环境显著改善，正成为越来越有吸引力的投资目的地。
作为世行每年一次的旗舰报告，《2020营商环境报告》追踪了截至2019年5月1日之前一年内世界范围内的经济监管改革，记录下全球115个经济体实施了294项改革促进商业活动。
报告说，中国在开办企业、办理建筑许可等8个领域的改革取得突出进展。例如，中国简化了办理建筑许可和获得电力的流程、缩短了审批时间。
世界银行高级经济学家马钦对本报记者表示：“过去两年，中国在优化营商环境方面取得了巨大成功，从两年前的第七十八位上升至现在的第三十一位，瞩目成就源于中国政府在营商环境领域的全面改革。”
耶鲁大学高级研究员史蒂芬•罗奇对本报记者表示，中国在改善营商环境方面的进步令人鼓舞，特别是在培育新企业方面，中国的排名更高。正如报告所指出的那样，中国政府在支持初创企业方面收获实效，这是中国专注于技术创新的表现。
近日，中国发布了首部针对营商环境优化的行政法规《优化营商环境条例》。该条例总结了近年来我国优化营商环境的经验和做法，将实践证明行之有效、人民群众满意、市场主体支持的改革举措用法规制度固化下来，对标国际先进水平，从完善体制机制的层面作出了相应规定。
马钦说：“我们对中国政府进一步优化营商环境的举措表示欢迎。”他指出，北京和上海已经实施了大量的突破性改革，这两个城市的成功经验有望在中国其他城市推广。“中国在获得信贷、跨境贸易等营商环境指标方面仍有提高潜力，营商环境改善将有助于推动中国经济高质量发展。”
新加坡国立大学法学院亚洲法律研究所所长王江雨表示，《优化营商环境条例》的出台，有助于从法律上保障在中国的创业和交易，推动政府角色转变，“这是一项具有长远意义的改革举措”。
当前，贸易保护主义抬头，全球经济增长预期不断下调。马钦表示，中国是全球经济增长的主要引擎之一，营商环境改善有助于中国经济增长，也将对全球经济发展产生积极影响。“世行的跨境贸易指标显示，中国正在努力降低从国外进口商品的成本，这表明了中国进一步扩大开放的决心。”
日本瑞穗综合研究所首席经济学家长谷川克之认为，“随着不断推动结构性改革，中国正在把挑战化为机遇。中国不断改善营商环境，采取了诸如放宽监管、开放市场、推动结构性改革等措施。中国扩大开放对世界经济的稳定和发展具有重要意义。”
日本欧力士集团专务执行董事伏谷清在接受本报记者采访时表示，该公司从上世纪80年代起进入中国，对中国营商环境的改善和提升深有感触。从相关法令的颁布，到各级政府的身体力行，深深体会到中国政府对营商环境的重视。良好的营商环境，对中外企业来说是共赢的，将创造更加开放的市场环境，为更多的外资企业来华发展提供选择。“中国开放的脚步从未停止，我们深切感知到中国对外开放的坚定决心。”
来源：人民日报
