China will strive to make itself more inviting to foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign talent by widening market access and improving the business environment, Premier Li Keqiang said after chairing an executive meeting of the government. The negative-list based market access regime for foreign capital, already being tried out in the country’s 11 free trade zones (FTZs), will be rolled out nationwide as soon as possible, and more sectors will be further opened to FDI. Profits of foreign-invested companies will be guaranteed free flow out of China. To make China more appealing to foreign talent, the government will put in place an improved work permit system for foreigners working in China. Detailed guidelines for visa application and evaluation benchmarks for widened access to foreign talent will be developed in the second half of the year. Five- to 10-year multiple-entry visas will be issued to qualified expatriates. “The inflow of foreign capital has been pivotal for China to maintain a relatively quick growth rate,” Premier Li said. “We must send a strong message of welcome to foreign investment.” Inbound FDI fell by 0.1% year-on-year to CNY441.54 billion in the first half of this year, but the number of newly launched foreign enterprises in China was up by 12.3%, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). In a sign of stabilizing FDI, the inflow rose by 2.3% year-on-year in June to CNY100.45 billion, the China Daily reports.