By LI Linxu

China is going to further expand a catalog that lists sectors encouraging foreign investment.

Compared with the current version, the revised catalog will add 238 items and modify 114 items, according to a draft for comments jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on May 10.

With an eye on further encouraging foreign investment, the revision follows the basic principles of item expansion and structure optimization, said NDRC.

In total, the revised version contains 1,435 items, up 16 percent from the previous version. The increased number signifies that more investment opportunities will open to foreign investors.

Of particular note is the increase in items related to manufacturing sectors and producer services, including technology services and development, said MOFCOM.

In addition, the new list continues to encourage foreign investment to enter the central, western and northeast regions of China.

In the field of sci-tech R&D and tech services, clean operation of traditional energies, and evaluation, certification and audit of clean productions are among the newly added or modified items.

Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park (PHOTO: XINHUA)

Digital economy sectors such as digital trade, smart logistics and smart manufacturing are also among the newly added or modified items.

Foreign investors entering sectors on the catalog will benefit from preferential policies such as taxation and land use, subject to laws and regulations.

China's foreign direct investment grew 20.5 percent year-on-year in the first four months this year, latest official data showed.

China remains an attractive market for foreign investment and the country's economic fundamentals remain solid and sound, said Shu Jueting, a spokesperson of MOFCOM, during a regular press conference.

MOFCOM will make every effort, along with other departments and local governments, to provide a better business environment and services to foreign investment in the country, added Shu.