Beijing to further open up, help firms

China will speed up the opening of sectors including telecommunications, education and healthcare as part of broader efforts to further expand reform, Vice-Premier Han Zheng said on Sunday in Beijing.

The country will continue to shorten the negative list for foreign investment and allow wholly foreign-funded businesses to operate in more sectors, Han said in a speech at the opening of the annual China Development Forum.

He pledged that the country will make unwavering efforts to develop a world-class business environment and encourage foreign businesses to conduct research, development and innovation in China.