China honors pledges to scrap ownership limits on foreign automakers in new negative list
中国兑现承诺，在新的负面清单中取消对外国汽车制造商的所有权限制
本文选自纽约时报，由世诺留学翻译，供英语学习者使用。
China on Monday unveiled a nationwide negative list for 2021 - in a move that observers called "a signature and phased step in high-level opening-up of the economy" - that drastically reduced barriers for foreign investment for five years in a row, with a full scrapping of restrictions on foreign ownership in passenger cars and a further easing in foreign investment in the production of key communications equipment.
星期一，中国公布了2021的全国性负面清单，观察家称之为“高水平经济开放的标志性和阶段性步骤”，这一趋势连续五年大幅减少了外国投资的壁垒，全面取消对乘用车外资所有权的限制，进一步放宽对关键通信设备生产的外国投资。
The new version of the list, whose extent of item reduction some industry insiders have dubbed "being caught off guard", underscores China's unswerving commitment to transform from a model of element-based to a rule-based and innovation-driven opening-up that is actively in line with its indigenous development tempo despite accumulated global downward pressure.
新版本的清单，一些业内人士称其减少物品的程度为“措手不及”，强调中国坚定不移地致力于从基于要素的模式转变为基于规则和创新驱动的开放模式。尽管全球经济下行压力不断加剧，但这一开放模式主动迎合了其本土发展节奏。
Against the backof Washington's allied approach to contain and isolate Beijing, it is also set to carve out new paths for a galaxy of foreign firms including Tesla, Germany-based Volkswagen, Toyota, Sony, Canon and Ericsson to share the opportunities brought by the spectacular rise of the world's second-largest economy in the post-virus era, while paving the way for cementing regional cooperation, analysts said, noting that the updated list could pave way for China to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and a reboot of the stalled China-Europe Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI).
在华盛顿联手遏制和孤立北京的背景下，它还将为包括特斯拉（Tesla）、德国大众（Volkswagen）、丰田（Toyota）、索尼（Sony）、佳能（Canon）和爱立信（Ericsson）在内的众多外国公司开辟新的道路，分享后疫情时代世界第二大经济体崛起带来的机遇，分析师指出，在为巩固区域合作铺平道路的同时，更新后的名单可能为中国加入跨太平洋伙伴关系全面渐进协议（CPTPP）和重启陷入僵局的中欧投资全面协议（CAI）铺平道路。
In addition to a nationwide negative list, China also unveiled its 2021 negative list for foreign investment in pilot free trade zones. The number of items that are off-limits for foreign investors will be cut to 31 for the nationwide version, and 27 for the free trade zone version, respectively, with a reduction ratio of 6.1 percent and 10 percent. In 2017, there were 93 and 122 items on the list respectively.
除了全国性的负面清单外，中国还公布了其在试点自由贸易区外国投资的2021个负面清单。全国版和自贸区版的外商投资禁区项目将分别减少到31个和27个，降幅分别为6.1%和10%。2017年，名单上分别有93项和122项。
The lists, which are jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's economic planner, and the Ministry of Commerce will take effect on January 1, 2022.
这些名单由国家发展和改革委员会（NDRC）、中国经济规划师和商务部联合发布，将于2022年1月1日生效。
"China has not only fulfilled its pledge to the WTO, and but has now also voluntarily relinquished the organization's certain special treatments for developing nations. The new list is both a vote of confidence in the competitiveness of the domestic industry and an embodiment of China's image as a responsible nation, offering a ballast of support to the rest of the world amid the repercussions of the pandemic," Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.
“中国不仅履行了对世贸组织的承诺，而且现在还自愿放弃了该组织对发展中国家的某些特殊待遇。新名单既是对国内产业竞争力的信心投票，也是中国作为负责任国家形象的体现。中国在疫情大流行的影响下，为世界其他地区提供支持。”北京中国人民大学国际事务研究所所长王一炜星期一告诉《环球时报》。
Lin Jiang, a professor of economics at Lingnan University College at Sun Yat-sen University, told the Global Times that the shortened negative list sends a signal that China will continue to open up its economy, instead of pausing after certain levels of efforts or shrinking before global obstacles and pressure.
中山大学岭南学院经济学教授林江对《环球时报》表示，缩短的负面清单发出了一个信号，即中国将继续开放经济，而不是在一定程度的努力后暂停，或在全球障碍和压力面前退缩。
The NDRC said the new negative list is oriented toward further opening-up and an improvement on the dual management mechanism of foreign investment based on pre-establishment national treatment and negative lists. It coordinates development with security, and draws on common international practices.
国家发改委表示，新的负面清单旨在进一步开放，并改进基于之前设立的国民待遇和负面清单的外商投资双重管理机制。它协调发展与安全，并借鉴共同的国际做法。
Significant change
重大变化
One significant change of the new lists is the deepening of the opening-up of the domestic manufacturing industry, after which the negative list governing free trade zones' manufacturing sector will be brought down to naught.
新名单的一个重大变化是国内制造业开放的深化，之后自由贸易区制造业负面名单将被取消。
Under the list, restrictions on foreign ownership in passenger car manufacturing and restrictions on the establishment of two joint ventures in China for the production of the same type of whole vehicle products will be lifted. In terms of radio and television equipment manufacturing, restrictions on foreign investment in the production of ground reception facilities and key components for satellite television and radio broadcasting will be erased, with management for foreign investment being the same as domestic enterprises.
根据该清单，将取消对乘用车制造业外资所有权的限制，以及对在中国建立两家合资企业生产同类型整车产品的限制。在广播电视设备制造方面，取消外商投资生产卫星电视和广播地面接收设施和关键部件的限制，外商投资管理与国内企业相同。
The opening-up of the auto sector is in tandem with a plan the NDRC laid out in 2018, under which China would remove foreign ownership caps for companies making fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2018, for makers of commercial vehicles in 2020, and the wider passenger car market by 2022.
汽车行业的开放与发改委在2018年制定的计划是一致的，根据该计划，中国将在2018年取消生产全电动和插电式混合动力汽车公司的外资所有权上限，在2020年取消商用车制造商的外资所有权上限，并在2022年取消更广泛的乘用车市场。
The new rule on communication equipment manufacturing, which involves major infrastructure construction that concerns national security, represents a "big stride" from a complete ban in last version to being fully open, industry insiders said.
业内人士表示，新的规则涉及到国家安全的重大基础设施建设的通信设备制造，代表着从上一版的全面禁令到全面开放的“一大步”。
According to Fu Liang, an independent tech analyst, with the development of the internet in China, demand is increasing for media companies to use more up-to-date and comprehensive solutions, which pushes the country to welcome larger companies, including international firms, into their list of suppliers.
独立技术分析师傅亮（音译）表示，随着互联网在中国的发展，媒体公司使用更先进、更全面解决方案的需求正在增加，这促使中国欢迎包括国际公司在内的大公司加入其供应商名单。
"China is conspicuously forging closer economic ties with other economies and facilitating regional cooperation, and defying the US-led blockade that nudges its allies away from the world's second-largest economy," Wang said.
“中国正在显著地与其他经济体建立更紧密的经济联系，促进区域合作，并藐视美国领导的封锁，这种封锁迫使其盟友远离世界第二大经济体，”王说。
Lin noted that through opening-up, China is helping stabilize the world economy by giving overseas companies opportunities to make profits, thus making tremendous contributions to the global economic rebound after the coronavirus crisis.
林毅夫指出，凭借开放，通过给海外公司创造利润的机会，中国正在帮助稳定世界经济，从而为冠状病毒危机后的全球经济反弹做出巨大贡献。
According to Lin, for areas where domestic consumption has already shown strong signs, such as cars, it is expected that overseas companies will be greatly encouraged by the policy to allow them to set up wholly owned firms in China.
林毅夫表示，对于国内消费已经显示出强劲迹象的领域，如汽车，预计允许海外公司在中国设立独资公司的政策将极大地鼓励海外公司。
Analysts envisioned the new list drawing in more foreign companies, such as Japanese and German automakers Toyota and Volkswagen, global media hardware giants like Sony and Canon, as well as EU tech giants such as Ericsson and Siemens.
分析师预计，新名单将吸引更多的外国公司，如日本和德国汽车制造商丰田（Toyota）和大众（Volkswagen），索尼（Sony）和佳能（Canon）等全球媒体硬件巨头，以及爱立信（Ericsson）和西门子（Siemens）等欧盟科技巨头。
Wang stressed that the further opening-up will anchor China to specific terms in the CPTPP, an 11-nation free trade deal with the highest opening-up level in the world that the US withdrew from in 2017. Also, the terms for media equipment, among others, could serve as a catalyst that reactivates negotiations on CAI.
王建民强调，进一步开放将使中国在跨太平洋伙伴关系全面渐进协议（CPTPP）的具体条款下站稳脚跟。跨太平洋伙伴关系全面渐进协议（CPTPP）是世界上开放程度最高的一项11国自由贸易协定，美国在2017年退出。此外，媒体设备的条款，以及其他条款，可以作为重新启动投资全面协议（CAI）谈判的催化剂。
In 2020, China attracted a total of $149.3 billion in foreign investment, ranking second in the world and bucking the trend of diving global investment, according to the NDRC.
根据国家发改委的数据，2020年，中国总共吸引了1493亿美元的外国投资，排名世界第二，与全球投资跳水的趋势背道而驰。
Restricted areas
限制领域
Under the negative list on free trade zones, restrictions on access to the market research field will be lifted except in certain areas that collect views on radios and TVs, and social research for foreign investment will be allowed. But the proportion of shares held by Chinese enterprises should not be less than 67 percent, and the legal representative should be a Chinese national.
根据自由贸易区的负面清单，市场研究领域的准入限制将被取消，但在某些对收音机和电视收集意见的领域除外，并允许外国投资的社会研究。但中国企业的持股比例不应低于67%，法定代表人应为中国公民。
The new list also includes specific terms on the overseas listing of Chinese enterprises engaged in businesses prohibited by the negative list, as well as caps on foreign investors' shareholding in Chinese companies listed in the mainland through various means such as Stock Connect, QFII and RQFII - the first time that such explanations have been detailed amid China's intensifying efforts to promote the two-way opening-up of capital markets.
新名单还包括从事负面名单禁止业务的中国企业在海外上市的具体条款，以及外国投资者通过股票连接等多种方式持有在内地上市的中国公司股份的上限，QFII和RQFII——在中国加紧推进资本市场双向开放的过程中，此类解释首次得到详细说明。
According to the new list, some restrictions on foreign investment are still in place, such as a ban on investing in rare-earths, and the wholesale and retail of tobacco products. The shares held by foreign investors in telecom value-added business must not exceed 50 percent, while the construction and operation of nuclear plants must be controlled by Chinese firms.
根据新名单，对外国投资的一些限制仍然存在，例如禁止投资稀土，以及烟草产品的批发和零售。外国投资者在电信增值业务中的持股比例不得超过50%，而核电站的建设和运营必须由中国公司控制。
The NDRC statement said that limits on foreign investment will remain in "sensitive sectors with regard to maintaining China's national, political and ideological security."
发改委的声明称，对外国投资的限制将继续存在于“与维护中国国家、政治和意识形态安全有关的敏感领域”
"The opening-up is flexible, based on our own speed rather than being forced to do so. It won't compromise China's key strategic interests, and cooperation with foreign companies should lead to a win-win result," Wang said.
“开放是灵活的，基于我们自己的速度，而不是被迫这样做。它不会损害中国的关键战略利益，与外国公司的合作应该带来双赢的结果，”王说。
Lin said that the opening of sectors that China was previously rather cautious about, such as communications ground hardware and market surveys, shows that Beijing is implementing opening-up into different industries and at different paces. This will make overseas companies anticipate the prospect of having more investment opportunities in the Chinese market in the future.
林毅夫说，中国以前相当谨慎的领域，如通信地面硬件和市场调查的开放，表明北京正在以不同的速度向不同的行业实施开放。这将使海外公司预期未来在中国市场有更多投资机会的前景。
