China's Commerce Minister Calls for More Open Environment for Investment

XIAMEN, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Thursday that nations around the world should create an open and more comfortable environment for overseas investment to boost confidence amid current global economic uncertainty.

A small number of regions remain conservative in receiving foreign investment. Some big countries refuse Chinese investors in the name of safeguarding national interests, which is not conducive to coping with the global financial crisis and achieving a speedy recovery, Chen told a forum held at the 15th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) which opened Wednesday in China's southeastern coastal city of Xiamen.

"We must not only safeguard a free environment for trade, but also for investment," Chen said.

He noted that it is especially important considering sovereign debt crises of major economies have nearly depleted their fiscal and monetary policy funds to boost growth.

Only a very open and more comfortable environment for investment will work to promote employment and domestic consumption, he added.