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Negative list, zero-tariff treatment exemplify China’s intensifiedefforts in opening up

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By Ren Ping, People’s Daily

After the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its third plenary session a few months ago, global observers are focusing on two landmark moves made by China as it opens its doors wider.

Zero-tariff treatment – Starting from Dec. 1, China gives all the least developed countries (LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, becoming the first major developing country and major economy to implement such a measure.

Negative list – On Nov. 1, the new edition of China’s national negative list for foreign investment took effect, which slashed the items from 31 to 29 andremoved all market access restrictions for foreign investorsin the country’s manufacturing sector.

So far, China’s negative list for foreign investment has experienced eight rounds of reduction, demonstrating the country’s steady expansion of opening up. This exactly proves why the “next China” is still China, according to analysts.

In 2013, the negative list approach was first adopted in China’s inaugural pilot free trade zone (FTZ) in Shanghai, containing 190 items.

The following year saw the first reduction, which brought the number of restrictions down to 139, expanding areas of opening up while easing access requirements.

In 2015, China expanded the pilot FTZ practice to three other coastal provincial-level regions: south China’s Guangdong province, north China’s Tianjin municipality, and southeast China’s Fujian province. This year, the list witnessed further shrinkage to 122 items and was applied to all FTZs. This second round of reduction removed all restrictions in the general manufacturing sector, including agricultural product processing and alcoholic beverages.

Starting from 2016, China’s negative list for foreign investment was implemented nationwide. At the same time, China piloted the negative list for market accessin four provinces and municipalities to introduce the market access negative list into its domestic economic governance.

The third reduction came in 2017, as China slashed the items on the national negative list for foreign investment to 63. Besides, the country applied the list to all its FTZs while also trimming the items on the FTZ negative list to 95. This round of reduction furthered opened sectors such as rail transportation equipment manufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

In 2018, the number of items on the national negative list was cut down to only 48, while that on the FTZ negative list was reduced to 45. In addition, the system of a negative list for market access was fully implemented nationwide in China.

The fifth and sixth reductions took place in 2019 and 2020, with the number of restrictions on the national negative list lowered to 40 and 33 respectively, and the FTZ negative list to 37 and 30 respectively, creating a more open, accessible and fair investment environment.

In 2021, there were only 31 and 27 restriction items on the national and FTZ negative lists respectively. This seventh round of reduction made all Chinese manufacturing sectors open to foreign investors in the pilot FTZs.

On Nov. 1, 2024, the new edition of the national negative list came into effect, which scrapped the two remaining manufacturing-related items on the previous list,marking the eighth reduction.

The eight rounds of reduction, addressing practical concerns and looking toward long-term development, demonstrate China’s intensified efforts and growing confidence in expanding opening-up.

The manufacturing sector was the earliest sector in China to open up to foreign investors, and is also the most competitive and closely coordinated one in terms of global industrial division of labor. The removal of all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector exemplifies how China is promoting reform and development through opening up.

At the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would reduce as soon as possible limits on foreign investment in automobiles, ships and aircraft, automobiles in particular.

Subsequently, China has gradually lifted foreign investment limits in automobiles, starting with specialized vehicles and new energy vehicles(NEVs) in 2018, followed by commercial vehicles in 2020, and passenger vehicles in 2022. After a four-year transition period, China’s auto industry has achieved full opening-up to foreign investment.

China’s production and sales of NEVs accounted for over 60 percent of the world’s total in 2023, ranking first in the world for nine consecutive years. The rapid development of China’s NEV industry is attributed to the country’s strong commitment to reform and innovation, which allows it to effectively respond to the ever-changing dynamics of open competition.

Boasting the most complete industrial system globally, China has been the world’s top manufacturing country for 14 consecutive years, and has developed over 200 mature industrial clusters and 26 of the world’s top 100 science and technology innovation clusters.

China’s confidence in removing foreign investment restrictions in the manufacturing sector stems from the fact that the country has turned from a follower to a leader in an increasing number of scientific and technological areas.

Additionally, China has been advancing its manufacturing sector by focusing on high-end, intelligent, and green development,and is committed to promoting international cooperation, which has increased its capability to open up and driven its transition from a manufacturer of quantity to a manufacturer of quality.

In today’s world, win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all.

Benin is one of the LDCsdesignated by the United Nations. In September 2023, China officially granted quarantine access for Beninese pineapples. In November that year, Benin’sfresh pineapples made their debut at the sixth China International Import Expo. These “sugar bread of Africa”achieved the fastest entry into China in just two months, with an intended purchase deal reaching $60 million.

China is pursuing high-standard opening up, and unilaterally opening its doors wider to the LDCs,which is one of the eight actions for global development outlined by the country during the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

During the summit, China also announced that from now to 2030, its imports from other developing countries are likely to top $8 trillion, which shows its commitment to sharing its development opportunities with the world.

The decision to give all the LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment demonstrates the country’s open-mindedness, broad vision, and sense of responsibility.

Reform and opening up is a historic process in which China and the world achieve development and progress together. China has always been committed to win-win cooperation, continuously creating new opportunities for global development through its modernization achievements.

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Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

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The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.

 

On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.

 

The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.

 

While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.

 

VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.

 

The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.

 

Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.

 

The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”

 

Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.

 

As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.

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Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

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A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.

US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.

Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.

The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.

The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.

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China’s new chapter in global innovation

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By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily

At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.

Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.

In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.

China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.

Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.

Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.

Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.

Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.

Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.

In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.

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