European Union flags fly outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium, on June 9, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

Record high revenues and profits for EU businesses demonstrate China's economic vitality as well as positive results of its efforts to continuously open up the market and optimize the business environment for foreign firms, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday.

Wang's remark came after Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said on Tuesday that EU companies are willing to make greater contributions to the high-quality development of China's economy, as the turnover and profit of member companies reached record highs in the nation in 2020.

"The record highs in the turnover and profits of member companies of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China are an epitome of the vitality of the Chinese economy and the positive effects of China's endeavor to deepen opening-up and optimizing business environment," Wang said. 

As two major independent forces in the world and each other's comprehensive strategic partner, cooperation between China and the EU, complementary, mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Wang added.

Official data showed that China became the EU's No.1 trading partner in 2020. Bilateral trade in the first three quarters of 2021 reached $599.3 billion, an increase of 30.4 percent year-on-year.

Reports published by the chambers of commerce of the US, EU and Japan, among others, have shown foreign enterprises' confidence in the Chinese market.

Nearly 60 percent of European companies plan to expand their businesses in China this year, an increase of nearly 10 percentage points from the 51 percent surveyed last year, a survey released by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China showed in June. 

Sixty-four percent of US Congressional districts exported more goods to China in 2020 compared with 2019, and 72 districts increased their exports by more than $100 million, a study released by the US-China Business Council showed on Monday.

The uptick was particularly sharp in the farming communities of the Midwest, oil-exporting regions in Texas and Louisiana, and Oregon's semiconductor hub, the study said. 

China has made overall plans to promote economic and social development, and strives to create a market-oriented business environment based on rule of law and up to international standard to provide strong guarantee for companies operating in China, Wang noted. 

"We will continue to improve business environment for foreign companies, including those from the EU. We also stand ready to work with the EU side to advance connectivity, seek greater strategic synergy, boost global economic recovery and contribute to addressing global challenges," Wang said. 

Global Times