China Says It’s Open for Business. Foreign Firms Find It’s Not That Simple.<br />“When you go into a country and participate in the market, you are subject to the laws and regulation of<br />that country,” Mr. Cook said, underscoring the notion that some American business leaders are willing to play by China’s rules.<br />One of the many statistics that officials here cited to support China’s growing strength on the global stage was this<br />one: The Fortune 500 list now includes 115 Chinese companies, nearly equal to the number of American companies.<br />GUANGZHOU, China — The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Wednesday welcomed dozens of corporate leaders<br />and foreign dignitaries with one overriding message: China is open for business.<br />Wang Yang, China’s vice premier, spoke of the country’s commitment to a “nondiscriminatory environment for<br />foreign companies.” Another senior Chinese official promised a level playing field for foreign businesses.<br />“Chinese government statements reaffirming China’s commitment to providing a nondiscriminatory environment for foreign companies are always welcome,<br />but need to be accompanied by real progress,” said Kenneth Jarrett, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
