BEIJING (China Daily/ANN): The novel coronavirus epidemic will not alter the fundamentals of China's foreign trade, foreign investment and core position within the global industrial chain from a long-term perspective, commerce officials and business leaders said. Even though China's foreign trade, foreign investment and consumption have been hit by the outbreak, this impact will gradually ease once the virus is contained in China, said Xian Guoyi, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services. Honeywell International Inc, the United States-based industrial conglomerate, said its 21 plants across China have resumed production. Scott Zhang, president of Honeywell China, said these facilities are taking orders from domestic clients and shipping products to other global destinations. As the epidemic is largely a regional and short-term event, the preparations for the 127th China Import and Export Fair are proceeding as planned.

Source: The Star February 23, 2020 23:15 UTC