BEIJING: China hit back on Thursday at recent criticism from the United States about its trade practices, saying some countries’ unilateralism is an unprecedented challenge to global trade.
Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng also said that foreign and domestic firms are treated equally in China and that foreign firms should not have concerns about investing in China.
The comments come amid stepped up pressure on Beijing from Washington over trade and pledges by China to further open its markets to foreign investors.
“Some countries’ unilateral actions and calls for unilateralism are an unprecedented challenge to the multilateral trading system,” Gao said.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has begun to launch trade investigations under statutes seldom used in the World Trade Organization (WTO) era, including a “Section 301” probe of China’s intellectual property practices.
On Monday, US trade envoy Robert Lighthizer said that China was a threat to the world trading system.
“The sheer scale of their coordinated efforts to develop their economy, to subsidize, to create national champions, to force technology transfer, and to distort markets in China and throughout the world is a threat to the world trading system that is unprecedented,” Lighthizer said, according to a transcript of the speech on the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Gao defended China’s foreign investment policies, saying it has no laws requiring foreign companies to transfer technology to Chinese firms. “(Any technology transfer) is market-driven behavior between companies; there is absolutely no government intervention,” said Gao. The commerce ministry on Monday unveiled a four-month crackdown, running from September until the end of 2017, to protect the intellectual property rights of companies with foreign investors.
China hits back at US over trade, says unilateralism is “unprecedented challenge”
China hits back at US over trade, says unilateralism is “unprecedented challenge”
Saudi Arabia sets first-ever rules for beach operators on Red Sea coast
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea tourism regulator has issued its first set of beach operating rules, laying out licensing, safety and environmental standards as the Kingdom moves to commercialize its coastline.
The Saudi Red Sea Authority said the new Beach Operators’ Requirements and Conditions establish a regulatory framework for beach operations, covering areas such as security, public health, environmental protection and infrastructure standards.
The rules are intended to support investment in coastal tourism while ensuring compliance with sustainability and safety benchmarks, as Saudi Arabia expands leisure and hospitality offerings along its western coast as part of Vision 2030.
The move builds on earlier efforts to position coastal tourism as a key economic pillar. In 2024, the authority and the Ministry of Investment released an “Invest in Coastal Tourism” report that identified the Red Sea coastline as central to Vision 2030 plans, including a target of attracting 19 million visitors.
In a release, the authority stated: “These requirements serve as a comprehensive operational and regulatory framework for issuing beach operation licenses. They define conditions related to security, safety, public health, and environmental protection, establishing a new phase governed by high-quality standards aligned with international best practices and experiences.”
It added: “This framework aims to deliver an optimal beach experience for visitors and, in the long term, enhance service quality, safety standards, beach sustainability, marine environmental protection, and overall attractiveness. The requirements are designed to act as an official reference for operators seeking to develop or operate beaches.”
The requirements also address beach design, development, and construction in line with the Saudi Building Code, ensuring architectural and structural compliance. They include accessibility for people with disabilities, enforcement of safety, security, and environmental measures, and alignment with high-quality standards, including those of the Blue Flag eco-label.
The regulations outline licensing procedures and documentation requirements, including commercial registration, environmental permits, marine zoning approvals, beach safety plans and capacity assessments. Operators must also separate swimming areas from other marine activities, provide safety and rescue equipment, ensure trained lifeguards are on duty and install clear signage.
“The requirements further impose strict environmental controls, including the prevention of pollutant discharge, effective waste management, the use of environmentally friendly materials, activation of environmental monitoring mechanisms, and immediate reporting of any environmental incident to preserve ecological balance,” it added.
The rules will come into force one month after their announcement, with existing beach operators granted a one-year transition period to comply with the new technical and environmental standards.
Saudi Arabia aims for coastal tourism in the Red Sea region to contribute about SR85 billion ($22.6 billion) to gross domestic product by 2030, generate more than 210,000 jobs, and capture a significant share of leisure tourism and entertainment spending.
