A letter to friends of foreign-invested enterprises in Jiangsu

Dear friends of foreign-invested enterprises in Jiangsu,

Warm greetings and best wishes to you in this special spring when we are combating the COVID-19. Thank you for your trust and care to Jiangsu, as well as the understanding, support and help you have extended to us during our fight against the virus spread. We have heard a lot of stories on FIE’s participation in this joint battle, which we truly appreciate and admire.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, under the direct command of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures. With concerted efforts, the situation of the whole nation is changing for the better, and Jiangsu is keeping a good momentum in epidemic prevention and control. Up to yesterday, there has been no newly confirmed case in Jiangsu for 12 consecutive days, and 536 of the 631 confirmed cases have been cured with no deaths. In the epidemic prevention and control period, we have strengthened effort in providing reminders and services to the over 40,000 foreigners in Jiangsu, and none of them has been contracted so far. It is proved that China has the confidence and capacity to secure the ultimate success against the epidemic, and Jiangsu is fully capable of safeguarding the health and safety of her people with adequate technology infrastructures and medical resources, and offering safe and sound development environment for all investors including our friends of FIEs.

At present, China has initiated a coordinated approach to balance epidemic prevention and control and socio-economic development, with which work and production resumption is speeding up, restoration of normal social and economic order is progressing in an orderly fashion. Being a province whose GDP accounts for 1/10 of the national total, Jiangsu, under the preconditions of safety and proper control, has created conditions for enterprises to resume operation by rolling out “50 Policies” to mitigate the repercussion caused by the epidemic and enable unfettered economic growth, and “22 Policies” to support small-and-medium-sized enterprises. Up to now, the percentage of enterprises resuming operation has reached 76%, and the production capacity of enterprises above the designated size has recovered to 78.7% of their normal level in Jiangsu.

FIEs are the major force in the economic development of Jiangsu, and most of them have resumed business operation currently. During our recent inspections, some friends of FIEs told me that the proactive measures taken by local governments, such as help in purchasing protective supplies, facilitating industrial supports, and ensuring unimpeded flow of personnel and logistics, have further reinforced their confidence in investment. These are just miniatures of Jiangsu’s approach of valuing foreign enterprises, and providing best services with all our hearts. Of course, there are also aspects we need to work on and improve. You have encountered difficulties in times like this, please accept our heartfelt regards. We will provide targeted services aiming to help everyone tide over difficulties together.

At the time when the control of the outbreak in Jiangsu was most stressful and difficult, we still cordially received and properly arranged for travelers from Wuhan and other places of Hubei Province. Our thoughts are with those countries and regions in the middle of the virus outbreaks. Jiangsu always treats foreign-invested companies and foreign employees in the same way as it treats Chinese companies and citizens. When you and your families come to Jiangsu, we will follow the principle of national treatment, deliver necessary health protection measures without discrimination, and provide considerate services. We also hope to get your understanding and support.

We are a community of shared destiny. This community features win-win economic cooperation, mutual cultural understanding, and joint response to challenges. In the prevention and control of this severe epidemic, we have learned lessons and gained hard-won experience. If your headquarters are in need of the knowledge on how to prevent and control the virus, we are ready to share our experiences and practices, and provide support and assistance within our ability.

We will battle the storm and pursue prosperity together. After the storm comes the rainbow. I believe that after the test of the epidemic, we will have a brighter future!

Hereby, I sincerely wish you and your families good health and a happy life.

LOU Qinjian

Secretary of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee

WU Zhenglong

Governor of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government