THE HAGUE — China’s new policy to further open up its basic manufacturing sector by removing foreign ownership restrictions is applicable to all, Premier Li Keqiang said on Oct 15.

The remarks were made when Premier Li and his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, jointly met with the press during his official visit to the Netherlands starting on Oct 14.

“The policy is not just for some specific companies of some specific countries,” Premier Li said in response to a question on a recent agreement between China and German which will see German chemical giant BASF invest $10 billion to build a Verbund chemical production site in China.

The chemical complex will be wholly owned by BASF.

Dutch companies are welcome to make such large-scale investment in China to establish enterprises wholly owned by themselves, the Premier told the press.

“Our opening-up policy is consistent and applicable to all without discrimination,” Premier Li said.

Premier Li arrived in the Netherlands on Oct 14 for an official visit, the first such visit by a Chinese premier in 14 years.