BEIJING - The overall investment environment in China has been improving in recent years and China's door is going to keep opening wider, Sun Jiwen, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said Thursday.

Sun's remarks came on the heels of the 2017 American Business in China White Paper released last week by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China).

The White Paper argues that foreign-invested enterprises face many regulatory challenges in China, saying access to China's markets remains relatively restricted.

Attracting foreign investment is one important part of the basic state policy of reform and opening up, and China welcomes foreign companies to invest in China, Sun told reporters.

China welcomes foreign companies operating in China to share their insights to improve the country's investment environment through joint efforts, Sun said.

China is trying to create and protect a fair market environment for competition and is making service industries, manufacturing, and mining sectors more open to foreign investment, he said.

"Foreign companies will be treated the same as domestic companies when it comes to license applications, standards-setting and government procurement, and will enjoy the same preferential policies under the Made in China 2025 initiative according to this year's government work report released last month," Sun added.