High hopes voiced for introduction of Foreign Investment Law

A new law, to be voted on during the two sessions, could be the most significant in terms of China's opening-up since the country joined the World Trade Organization, according to a leading lawyer in the country.

The new law will reduce the number of sectors on the negative list in which foreign companies are barred from operating, protect the intellectual property of overseas investors and ban forced technology transfers.

Edward Lehman, managing director of Lehman, Lee & Xu in Beijing, said the Foreign Investment Law could create a new level playing field for foreign companies in China.