To implement the guiding principles of the “Opinions of the State Council on Further Optimizing the Environment for Foreign Investment and Strengthening Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment” (State Council Document [2023] No. 11) and the “Notice of the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Issuing the ‘Several Measures of Guangxi to Strengthen Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment’” (Guangxi Government Document [2023] No. 29), further optimize the environment for foreign investment in our city, and more vigorously attract and utilize foreign capital, the following measures are formulated based on the actual conditions of our city.
I. Improving the Quality of Foreign Investment Utilization
(1) Support foreign investors in establishing R&D centers in Liuzhou.Foreign investors are encouraged to establish R&D centers independently or through various forms of cooperation with local innovation entities in Liuzhou to jointly conduct technological R&D and industrialization with local enterprises. Support will be provided for foreign-funded R&D centers to collaborate with local universities, research institutes, and vocational colleges to tackle core technologies along the industrial chain, jointly build technical and skills innovation platforms such as training bases, industry-academia-research joint laboratories, and data-sharing platforms, and participate in technology transfer and innovation-entrepreneurship platforms established across the region.Vigorously promote the industrialization of patents, and encourage and support foreign-invested enterprises and foreign-funded R&D centers to implement patent-based technological innovation, creation, and transformation and application locally. Intensify publicity efforts regarding preferential policies for foreign-funded R&D centers, and encourage and guide eligible foreign-invested enterprises to apply for recognition as foreign-funded R&D centers. [The Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Bureau of Science and Technology, Bureau of Education, Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, and Market Regulation Bureau, as well as Liuzhou Customs, shall be responsible according to their respective duties]
(2) Intensify efforts to attract foreign investment in key sectors. Implement the latest edition of the “Catalogue of Industries Encouraging Foreign Investment,” and increase the utilization of foreign capital in advanced manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, modern services, and other sectors to promote the concentration of foreign investment in the real economy. Vigorously attract foreign investment projects in advanced manufacturing industries such as machinery and equipment and automobiles (including new energy vehicles); strategic emerging industries such as high-end equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and new energy; as well as productive service industries such as technology services and modern logistics.[Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Development and Reform Commission, Commerce Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (districts) and New Area Administrative Committee, each responsible according to their respective duties] Support foreign-invested enterprises in fields such as advanced manufacturing, modern services, and the digital economy in conducting vocational education and training with various vocational schools (including technical schools) and vocational training institutions.[The Municipal Education Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Commerce Bureau, and Market Regulation Bureau shall be responsible according to their respective duties] Ensure the implementation of preferential policy measures at the national and autonomous region levels regarding encouraged foreign investment projects. [The Municipal Commerce Bureau, Investment Promotion Bureau, Liuzhou Municipal Tax Bureau, and Liuzhou Customs shall be responsible according to their respective duties]
(3) Strengthen Policy Guidance. Fully implement the “Notice of the General Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Issuing the Action Plan for Accelerating the Reform and Upgrading of Guangxi Economic and Technological Development Zones” (Gui Zheng Ban Fa [2021] No. 101), the “Notice of the Department of Commerce of the Autonomous Region on Issuing Several Measures to Stabilize the Foundation of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment in Guangxi” (Gui Shang Mao Fa [2022] No. 59),and the “Notice of the Liuzhou Municipal People’s Government on Effectively Strengthening Work on Utilizing Foreign Investment in Liuzhou” (Liuzhou Government Regulation [2019] No. 59), among other relevant policies. Encourage foreign-invested enterprises to increase capital and attract new investments, strengthen the supply of key resources for foreign investment projects, and provide rewards in accordance with regulations to eligible foreign-invested enterprises that increase capital or attract new investments. [The Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Commerce Bureau, Finance Bureau, and Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, as well as the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New Area Administrative Committee, shall be responsible according to their respective duties]
(4) Further expand channels for attracting foreign investment. Encourage eligible foreign investors to establish investment companies and regional headquarters in Liuzhou.Actively carry out the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) pilot program, strive to obtain approval for the implementation of the QFLP foreign exchange management facilitation system, and encourage foreign capital to establish various types of private equity investment funds in accordance with market principles and relevant laws and regulations, investing in enterprises within Liuzhou’s key industrial sectors through equity investment. Support domestic enterprises in introducing international brands, exclusive rights to technology, and venture capital through means such as cross-border mergers and acquisitions, overseas listings, and compliant round-trip investments.Expand cross-border financing channels for enterprises. Support eligible high-tech, “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” (SED), and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises in independently borrowing foreign debt up to the equivalent of US$5 million. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Liuzhou Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and Liuzhou Municipal Tax Bureau according to their respective duties]
II. Ensuring National Treatment for Foreign-Invested Enterprises
(5) Ensure that foreign-invested enterprises participate in government procurement activities in accordance with the law. Optimize the business environment for foreign-invested enterprises participating in government procurement, strictly enforce the specific standards for “produced within China,” investigate and punish illegal acts such as differential treatment of foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with the law, and publicize typical cases in a timely manner to ensure that foreign-invested enterprises participate fairly in government procurement activities at all levels.[Responsibility lies with the Municipal Finance Bureau and the Municipal Commerce Bureau in accordance with their respective duties] Explore innovative cooperative procurement methods and, through measures such as “first-purchase” orders, support foreign-invested enterprises in conducting R&D in our city to develop globally leading products. Ensure unimpeded channels for filing complaints in the government procurement sector; financial departments at all levels shall, in accordance with the law, accept and fairly handle objections and complaints filed regarding acts that infringe upon the rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises in government procurement activities. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Finance Bureau, the People’s Governments of each county (district), and the New Area Administrative Committee in accordance with their respective duties]
(6) Support foreign-invested enterprises in participating equally and in accordance with the law in standard-setting work. Promote transparency throughout the entire process of standard formulation and revision. In accordance with the principle of treating domestic and foreign capital equally, ensure that foreign-invested enterprises participate on an equal footing with domestic enterprises in standardization technical committees and standard-setting work in accordance with the law. Encourage foreign-invested enterprises to formulate enterprise standards independently or jointly with other enterprises, and to provide standardization services. [Led by the Municipal Market Regulation Bureau]
(7) Ensure that foreign-invested enterprises enjoy equal access to support policies.Strictly implement the fair competition review system; all policies issued by relevant units at all levels across the city to support industrial development and expand domestic demand must undergo a fair competition review. Except where explicitly stipulated by laws and regulations or where national security is involved, foreign-invested enterprises and their products and services shall not be excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of brand restrictions or the use of foreign brands, nor shall additional conditions be imposed on foreign-invested enterprises and their products and services to access policies. [Led by the Municipal Market Regulation Bureau and relevant units; the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New Area Administrative Committee shall be responsible in accordance with their respective duties]
III. Continuously Strengthen the Protection of Foreign Investment
(8) Improve mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of foreign investors. Strengthen monitoring of online information related to infringements upon the lawful rights and interests of foreign investors, optimize the online business environment, resolutely crack down on malicious hype that infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of foreign investors, and strictly investigate and punish the responsible institutions and individuals in accordance with the law.[Led by the Municipal Cyberspace Administration Office] Relying on the municipal business environment optimization complaint and reporting platform and the municipal-county (district) two-tier foreign investment complaint coordination mechanism, carry out work to protect the rights and interests of foreign investors and handle complaints; strengthen management at all stages, including complaint acceptance, processing, and feedback; and coordinate to ensure issues are properly resolved. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Investment Promotion Bureau, and the people’s governments of all counties (districts) and the New Area Administrative Committee according to their respective duties]
(9) Strengthen administrative protection of intellectual property rights. Leverage the administrative adjudication system for patent infringement disputes and enhance the enforcement of administrative rulings. [Led by the Municipal Market Regulation Bureau] Strictly implement the national “Guidelines for Intellectual Property Protection at Exhibitions” to strengthen pre-exhibition screening, in-exhibition patrols, and post-exhibition investigations, thereby protecting the intellectual property rights—including copyrights, patents, and trademarks—of exhibited products.[Municipal Publicity Department; Municipal Commerce Bureau and Market Regulation Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties] Strengthen intellectual property protection in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical consumables. For products involved in intellectual property disputes, relevant departments shall enhance communication and consultation and conduct procurement activities in accordance with laws and regulations; for products determined to infringe patents through administrative adjudication by intellectual property authorities or final judgments by the People’s Courts, take relevant measures in a timely manner in accordance with the law. [Municipal Market Regulation Bureau and Medical Insurance Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties]
(10) Intensify administrative law enforcement regarding intellectual property. Resolutely crack down on acts infringing upon the intellectual property rights of foreign-invested enterprises, and launch special enforcement campaigns targeting cross-regional and chain-based infringement violations. [Responsibility to be shared by the Municipal Publicity Department, the Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties] Improve the rapid and coordinated intellectual property protection mechanism; expedite the handling of infringement disputes where the facts are clear and the evidence is conclusive in accordance with the law; and utilize both online and offline methods to appropriately simplify procedural requirements. [Led by the Municipal Market Regulation Bureau]
(11) Enhance the transparency and predictability of foreign trade and economic policies.When formulating various foreign trade and economic policies and measures, fully consider their necessity, feasibility, and legality; solicit opinions from foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with the law; conduct legality reviews, fair competition reviews, and trade policy compliance reviews as required; and establish reasonable transition periods to enhance policy transparency and predictability. [Responsibility lies with relevant departments of the Municipal People’s Government, its directly affiliated agencies, the people’s governments of all counties (districts), and the New Area Administrative Committee, in accordance with their respective duties]
IV. Improving the Level of Investment and Operational Convenience
(12) Implement policies to optimize residence and stay arrangements for foreign employees of foreign-invested enterprises. Provide entry-exit, residence, and stay conveniences for foreign senior executives and technical personnel of foreign-invested enterprises, as well as their family members, and continuously improve service and management standards. [The Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Foreign Affairs Office, the Science and Technology Bureau, and the Liuzhou Border Inspection Station shall be responsible in accordance with their respective duties] Facilitate applications for permanent residence for foreign senior management and technical personnel hired and recommended by eligible foreign-invested enterprises.[Municipal Public Security Bureau, Foreign Affairs Office, Science and Technology Bureau, and Liuzhou Border Inspection Station, responsible according to their respective duties] Implement national policies and measures to enhance the convenience of using permanent residence ID cards for foreigners in scenarios such as public transportation, financial services, medical care, and online payments. [Municipal Public Security Bureau and Liuzhou Border Inspection Station, responsible according to their respective duties]
(13) Promote the secure and convenient cross-border flow of data. Implement the requirements of the Cybersecurity Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law, and other relevant laws to establish a green channel for eligible foreign-invested enterprises, thereby promoting the secure, orderly, and free flow of data. [Led by the Municipal Cyberspace Administration Office]
(14) Coordinate and optimize law enforcement inspections of foreign-invested enterprises. Implement relevant national and autonomous region regulations on advancing “double-random, public disclosure” supervision and credit risk classification management, and further reduce the sampling rate and frequency of inspections for foreign-invested enterprises with low credit risk. [Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties] Strengthen inter-departmental coordination and explore the consolidation of law enforcement inspections related to enterprises—such as those concerning work safety, environmental protection, and product quality—to achieve “one visit, multiple inspections.”[Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Ecology and Environment Bureau, and Emergency Management Bureau, according to their respective responsibilities]
(15) Improve service and support for foreign-invested enterprises. Make full use of the investment promotion project agency service platform and implement agency services for major foreign investment projects. [Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (districts) and New Area Administrative Committee, responsible according to their respective duties] Implement the “Liuzhou Foreign-Invested Enterprises Roundtable Meeting System,” strengthen regular communication and exchange between government and enterprises, and establish a closed-loop problem-handling mechanism.Strengthen coordination and synergy between the foreign-invested enterprise roundtable mechanism and the task force mechanism for serving foreign-invested enterprises; proactively engage with foreign investment projects; enhance support for production factors and policy assistance; promptly coordinate and resolve difficulties and issues encountered during project signing, construction, and commissioning; and provide full-process services to facilitate the establishment of foreign investment projects.[Municipal Commerce Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, Ecology and Environment Bureau, Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Transportation Bureau, Market Regulation Bureau, Investment Promotion Bureau, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the People’s Governments of all counties (districts) and the New Area Administrative Committee shall be responsible in accordance with their respective duties]. Ensure the proper issuance of certificates of origin for exports to facilitate foreign-invested enterprises in enjoying tax incentives for exported goods.[Liuzhou Customs and the Municipal Council for the Promotion of International Trade shall be responsible according to their respective duties] Implement national and autonomous region policies and measures to promote green electricity consumption, and support foreign-invested enterprises in increasing their participation in green certificate trading and cross-provincial and cross-regional green electricity trading. [Municipal Development and Reform Commission and Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology shall be responsible according to their respective duties]
V. Strengthen Financial and Tax Support
(16) Strengthen financial support for foreign investment promotion. Implement all policies and measures for investment promotion, support industrial parks in establishing international cooperation zones, and provide support to high-quality foreign investment projects that align with policy objectives in accordance with regulations.Increase financial support for investment projects in key industrial chains to facilitate their prompt implementation. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, and Municipal Commerce Bureau according to their respective duties] Actively seek support from the central government’s special funds for foreign trade and economic development and the autonomous region’s special funds for commercial development to support the city’s key foreign investment projects and conduct specialized investment promotion activities for foreign capital. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Commerce Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, and the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New Area Administrative Committee according to their respective duties]
(17) Encourage domestic reinvestment by foreign-invested enterprises. Implement the policy of temporarily exempting withholding tax on profits reinvested domestically by foreign investors; conduct extensive publicity and guidance; provide targeted and personalized tax services; and actively guide existing foreign-invested enterprises to continuously expand their investments in Liuzhou. Facilitate the payment and use of funds from equity transfers under domestic reinvestment projects and funds raised through overseas listings by foreign-invested enterprises. Eligible profit reinvestment projects by foreign-invested enterprises may enjoy fiscal incentive policies for foreign investment in accordance with relevant regulations.[Liuzhou Municipal Tax Bureau, Liuzhou Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Municipal Finance Bureau, and Municipal Commerce Bureau, in accordance with their respective responsibilities]
(18) Implement relevant tax preferential policies for foreign-invested enterprises. Provide guidance and assistance to foreign nationals to ensure they enjoy tax exemption benefits for allowances such as housing subsidies, language training fees, and children’s education expenses in accordance with national regulations. [Liuzhou Municipal Tax Bureau and Municipal Finance Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties] Guide and assist foreign-funded R&D centers in enjoying import tax policies supporting scientific and technological innovation and VAT refund policies for the procurement of domestically produced equipment in accordance with national regulations. [Municipal Commerce Bureau, Liuzhou Customs, and Liuzhou Municipal Tax Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties]
VI. Intensify Efforts to Promote Foreign Investment
(19) Improve the foreign investment promotion mechanism. Establish and improve a coordinated foreign investment promotion mechanism at the municipal and county levels, strengthen the overall planning of investment promotion efforts, and build a platform for multinational corporations to invest in Liuzhou.Explore the implementation of more flexible and effective staffing mechanisms and compensation systems for non-civil servant and non-public institution positions within foreign investment promotion departments and teams. Strengthen the staffing of foreign investment promotion personnel through measures such as cross-regional, cross-level, and cross-departmental adjustments. Accelerate the establishment of a diversified foreign investment promotion system to foster a flexible and efficient coordination mechanism involving multiple stakeholders, including the government, investment promotion agencies, business associations, intermediary institutions, and leading enterprises in industrial chains.[Responsibility lies with the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, the Municipal Commerce Bureau, the people’s governments of each county (district), and the New Area Administrative Committee in accordance with their respective duties]
(20) Proactively attract the transfer of foreign-invested industries. Fully align with foreign investment hubs such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Economic Belt to carry out embedded cooperation-based investment promotion.Leveraging open platforms such as economic and technological development zones and RCEP demonstration project clusters, as well as key industrial parks, we will explore mechanisms for sharing output value and benefits to strengthen the attraction of foreign investment projects from industries relocating from eastern regions, thereby further enhancing the driving and supporting role of open-type parks in industrial upgrading and the development of an open economy. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Commerce Bureau, and Industry and Information Technology Bureau, as well as the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New Area Administrative Committee, in accordance with their respective duties]
(21) Conduct Targeted Foreign Investment Promotion Activities. All counties (districts), new districts, industrial parks, and relevant departments shall carry out diverse foreign investment promotion activities. Based on the needs of industrial system development and the status of advantageous and distinctive industrial chains, they shall identify key overseas countries, priority industries, and target enterprises, and establish lists of foreign investment needs and recruitment targets.Each county (district), new district, and sectoral competent authority shall organize at least one specialized foreign investment promotion and project matching event annually, either independently or in collaboration with others. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Commerce Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New District Administrative Committee, in accordance with their respective duties]
(22) Expand channels for promoting foreign investment. Establish platforms for overseas investment promotion. Strengthen regular coordination with autonomous region-level departments responsible for investment promotion, commerce, and trade promotion, leverage established brands such as “Invest in China” and “Multinational Enterprises Visit Guangxi,” and conduct joint foreign investment promotion activities at both the regional and municipal levels.Fully leverage open platforms such as sister-city mechanisms, the China-ASEAN Expo, and the China International Import Expo, as well as foreign business associations, to expand investment promotion resources and channels, and carry out diverse forms of foreign investment promotion work. [Responsibility lies with the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, Commerce Bureau, Foreign Affairs Office, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), as well as the people’s governments of each county (district) and the New Area Administrative Committee, in accordance with their respective duties]
(23) Optimize the evaluation of foreign investment promotion. Conduct long-term development assessments of foreign investment projects in accordance with the law. Continuously optimize the evaluation system, focusing on the actual contributions of foreign investment to economic and social development, and incentivize counties (districts) and new districts to expand the utilization of foreign investment with greater intensity. Ensure that local governments fulfill their primary responsibilities and engage in genuine investment promotion to attract high-quality investors. [Responsibility lies with the People’s Governments of all counties (districts) and the Administrative Committees of new districts according to their respective duties]
The Municipal Bureau of Commerce, in conjunction with relevant departments, shall be responsible for interpreting these measures, which shall take effect from the date of issuance. Where the state or the autonomous region has separate provisions, those provisions shall prevail.
(This document is publicly released)
Copies sent to: Office of the Municipal Party Committee, Office of the Municipal People’s Congress, and Office of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Office of the Liuzhou Municipal People’s Government Issued on June 17, 2024
