On May 18, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) jointly held the first 2021 government-enterprise Policy Dialogue in Beijing with the theme of "Improving the ecological environment for enterprises' transnational operations". Representatives from 60 multinational member enterprises had in-depth exchanges on attracting foreign investment during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, improving the business environment, and policies smoothing supply chain and industrial chain, with Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman of NDRC，David Aikman, Chief Representative Officer of WEF in China and responsible leaders from Department of National Economy, Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment, Department of Laws and Regulations and Department of International Cooperation of NDRC.
After the meeting, reporter from China Reform Daily interviewed responsible leader of the Department of International Cooperation of NDRC.
Q: Why does NDRC organize this meeting between government and enterprises? What are the differences between this government-enterprise dialogue and previous ones?
A: WEF attaches great importance to China's economic development. NDRC has maintained long-term friendly cooperation with the World Economic Forum. Last year, NDRC and WEF created new cooperation pattern by organizing three local research and government-enterprise policy dialogue, which were separately held in Hangzhou and Yiwu of Zhejiang Province, Chengdu of Sichuan Province, Dalian of Liaoning Province, and Tianjin City. The series of activities were highly appraised by representatives of multinational enterprises and local governments, which enhanced the confidence of multinational enterprises to invest and develop in local areas.
In order to further introduce the opening-up policy and improve the business environment, attract multinational companies to invest and maintain long-term cooperation, smooth circulation of international industrial chain and supply chain, NDRC and WEF jointly held the policy dialogue, themed as "Improving the ecological environment for enterprises' transnational operations". We will take this opportunity to listen to the voices of multinational companies and share their views on China's opening up, attracting foreign investment, improving the business environment, and smoothing industrial and supply chains in light of their investment and long-term development in China.
Compared with the past, there are two main differences in this government-enterprise dialogue. First, the interaction and exchanges between Chinese ministry and multinational enterprises will be the main focus. The government-enterprise dialogue and local surveys held last year in Hangzhou and Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Dalian in Liaoning Province, and Tianjin mainly focused on exchanges between local governments and enterprises. Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman of NDRC, was invited to deliver a speech at the dialogue. Responsible leaders of relevant departments of NDRC and representatives of multinational enterprises exchanged views with enterprises. Second, the discussion is timely. In March this year, the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress passed the 14th Five-Year Plan and the long-term goals for 2035. The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan points out that we will open up to the outside world at a high level and open up new prospects for win-win cooperation. We will continue to open to the outside world in a wider range of areas, and at a deeper level, and take advantage of China's huge market to promote international cooperation and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. At this dialogue, the leaders of the relevant departments of NDRC introduced the macro-economic situation, China's efforts to attract foreign investment, the business environment improvements, and international industrial chain and supply chain cooperation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and communicated with the entrepreneurs.
Q: How can we further improve the business environment?
A: In recent years, following the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, NDRC, together with relevant parties, has continuously deepened the reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers, and improve regulation and services to continuously improve the business environment nationwide. In particular, since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have formulated and implemented several targeted, innovative, and rewarding reform measures. We have actively responded to the challenge of the epidemic, and promoted the resumption of work and production in an orderly manner as well as the assistance to enterprises, and achieved good results. In October 2020, NDRC issued the "China business environment report 2020". This report comprehensively introduces the evaluation system and methods of the business environment in China, systematically sorts out the progress and effectiveness of promoting business environment evaluation in recent years, and summarizes and refines the practical experience of deepening the reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers, and improve regulation and services, and optimizing the business environment in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, especially participating cities.
Going forward, we will build on the achievements of the previous stage of reform, further deepen the reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers, and improve regulation and services, continue to work harder to create a world-class business environment, and promote high-quality economic development.
First, we will further streamline administration and delegate more power to lower-level governments. During the epidemic, many places made it easier for businesses to start businesses by simplifying procedures and optimizing procedures. We should fix these effective and good practices, continue to streamline administrative licensing, optimize the examination and approval process, and promote the examination and approval mode of "acceptance of vacancy" and the system of notification and commitment. We will fully implement the negative list system for market access and enable the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation.
Second, we will further promote impartial regulation. We will step up efforts to improve the "1+N" regulatory and policy framework for improving the business environment. We will improve oversight based on random inspections and public disclosure, credit oversight, Internet Plus oversight, and cross-departmental coordination. We will make innovations in inclusive and prudent regulation, and establish and improve regulatory rules that are conducive to the innovative development of new industries, new forms of business, new technologies, and new models.
Third, we will further improve service efficiency. We will make it easier to do business both online and offline, work harder to integrate and share government service data, speed up the precise delivery of policies that benefit enterprises, help eligible enterprises to get the most out of their government services, and provide better government services to the public.
Fourth, further strengthen evaluation guidance. Based on the satisfaction of market entities and the public, we will continue to improve China's business environment assessment system based on unified national standards, organize and carry out business environment assessments in China, and use assessments to promote reform and improvement, to give full play to the role of assessments in guiding and supervising the improvement of the business environment. We will promptly review, summarize, copy and popularize typical practices, better use benchmarking and demonstration to lead the way, and encourage nationwide benchmarking and improvement of the business environment.
Q: How do you evaluate the cooperation between China and the World Economic Forum?
A: Since its establishment, WEF has provided service to enterprises through the organization of conferences and activities on a wide range of topics and in various forms, studied and discussed world economic issues, gained extensive international influence, and played an important role in promoting international economic cooperation and exchanges. Since 1979, China has maintained a good cooperative relationship with the world economic forum. Chinese leaders have attended the winter annual meeting of WEF many times. So far, NDRC and WEF have successfully held 13 Summer Davos Forums in China. As the leading coordinating department of WEF, NDRC has carried out long-term and friendly cooperation with WEF for many years. From guiding and assisting WEF in hosting the Summer Davos Forum in China, attending its winter annual meeting, to promote the joint building of “The Belt And Road” and to “Walking Davos”, the cooperation brand with WEF formed last year, WEF has participated in the cooperation of the Innovation and Development Center for the Belt And Road. The contents of cooperation between the two sides continue to deepen, the fields of cooperation continue to expand, and the outcomes of cooperation are increasingly fruitful.
First, further promote communication with multinational enterprises. Through WEF, Chinese leaders communicate with foreign leaders and world-famous entrepreneurs, publicize the concept of China's peaceful development and common development, interpret China's economic policies and measures, and dispel doubts, thus playing a unique role in promoting the communication and exchanges between China and the world.
Second, further provide intellectual support for think tanks. WEF has systematic resources, a forward-looking thinking mode and strong research ability all over the world. Its annual report on global competitiveness is authoritative and widely recognized by all walks of life in the world. Many of the key topics of the Summer Davos Forum, such as “The Belt and Road” cooperation, employment, energy, innovation and the quality of growth, are closely related to China's economic and social development.
Third, further expand the international vision of enterprises. At present, 4 Chinese enterprises are strategic partners of WEF, and another 96 enterprises are members of other types of WEF. The world economic forum provides a rare exchange platform for Chinese enterprises to learn advanced concepts of international management, find partners and integrate into the international market.
Fourth, further enhance the international influence of the host city. By holding the Summer Davos Forum, Tianjin and Dalian have the opportunity to make extensive contacts with the business network of WEF, which is composed of thousands of top multinational companies in the world, expand the open space and improve the visibility.
Q: What other measures will NDRC take to strengthen the cooperation with WEF?
A: The COVID-19 epidemic has brought many difficulties and challenges to the economic development of all countries, and WEF has made great efforts to deal with the epidemic. China attaches great importance to its cooperation with WEF. On January 25, President Xi Jinping attended the WEF Virtual Meeting of the Davos Agenda by video and delivered a special speech. President Xi urged the international community to jointly solve the four major issues faced by this era, called for common maintenance and practice of multilateralism and promoted the construction of a community of common destiny for all mankind. This has provided important thinking guidance for all countries to work together to meet challenges and build a better planet. It has demonstrated China's wisdom and responsibility and won warm response from the international community. Next, NDRC will continue to deepen cooperation with WEF in two aspects.
On one hand, we should be more refined, stronger and more famous. First, we need to continue to do a good job in the two major brand activities of WEF. In particular, we need to ensure China's participation in the 2021 WEF Special Annual Meeting and take the lead in coordinating the preparations for the Summer Davos Forum. Second, actively participate in various activities of WEF, promote the participation of government and enterprise representatives in the activities of WEF, and increase the participation of Chinese personnel in various important exchange platforms of WEF. Third, we will work with WEF to jointly build “The Belt and Road”, leverage the role of WEF as an international cooperation platform, expand channels for mutual participation, and promote coordinated and effective development of the “The Belt and Road” and global economic recovery.
On the other hand, we will emphasize more on innovating, creating excellence and characteristics. Last year, due to the epidemic, the Summer Davos Forum was postponed. NDRC and WEF overcame the impact of the epidemic, continued their pragmatic cooperation and actively explored and innovated, finally forming the cooperation brand between the two sides - “Walking Davos”. Next, we will continue to jointly organize government-enterprise policy dialogue and local research activities. In the second half of this year, NDRC and WEF will jointly organize multinational enterprises to carry out research in local areas, exchange experiences and practices on how to overcome the impact of the epidemic and achieve high-quality development, and discuss the situation of multinational enterprises' investment in local areas. (Reporter: Yuan Lin, China Reform Daily)