MNI POLICY: China to Boost Investment in Infrastructure: NDRC

     BEIJING (MNI) - China will boost investment this year by building more

intercity and urban railways and highways, undertaking major water conservation

projects and renewing old urban communities and their supporting infrastructure,

said spokeswoman Meng Wei of the National Development and Reform Commission at a

briefing on Sunday.

     Here are other key points Meng said at the briefing:

     - "China and the U.S. are both market economy countries. Chinese companies

will follow WTO rules and market conditions to expand imports from the U.S."  

     - Expanding imports of energy, manufactured goods, agricultural products,

medical care, financial services from the U.S. helps meet the needs of Chinese

consumers and will promote domestic competition.

     - The economy will continue to improve with the implementation of policies

and measures, after the moderate recovery in industrial production, demand,

expectation and the stable inflation in December.

     - Local governments should increase the support of funds and lands to

promote investment including accelerating special-purpose bonds and

fast-tracking projects.

     - The NDRC will further help open up investment projects to private

investors, standardize and promote the public-private partnership model.

     - China will continue to shorten the "negative list" of sectors banning

foreign investment in 2020, further expand market access and promote free trade

pilot zones for foreign investors.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

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