Beijing vows better business climate for foreign firms

China will continue to offer a world-class business environment for foreign firms, including German automakers, with market-driven policies and adherence to international standards, a senior Chinese official said on Sunday. Li Lecheng, party secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), to discuss bilateral cooperation. Li praised the VDA’s role in strengthening ties between Chinese and German automotive sectors, particularly in new energy and intelligent connected vehicles. Mueller reaffirmed the VDA’s support for free trade and fair competition, expressing optimism about enhanced cooperation in technology and industry practices between the two countries, which are strategic partners in automotive development.