China unwavering in opening up service sector: Official

BEIJING - China will remain unwavering in opening up its service sector with more measures in the pipeline despite continued trade deficits, an official said Sunday.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said the country will widen market access in finance, telecom, heath care, education and old-age care for foreign investors, and will ease restrictions on foreign holdings in financial businesses including banks, brokerages and funds.

"We will unveil timetables and roadmaps to open up sectors including finance, new energy vehicles and gas stations," Wang said while addressing the China Development Forum in Beijing.

The commitment to opening-up was in contrast with the country's deficit of $255.4 billion in service trade last year.

"We have as always supported free, fair trade," Wang said.

China has opened 120 industries related to service trade for foreign investors, surpassing the goal of 100 industries set when China joined the World Trade Organization nearly two decades ago.

In free trade zones, the government has fully liberalized many sectors closely watched by foreign investors, including credit ratings, accounting, e-commerce, power batteries and railway traffic equipment, Wang said.

China has also cut red tape in foreign investment with many approval procedures simplified or scrapped, and more favorable policies could be expected, according to the vice minister.

"We will soon promote pre-establishment national treatment and a negative list for foreign businesses nationwide," Wang said.