BEIJING - Foreign businesses in China are operating in an improving and maturing environment, with the government committed to its World Trade Organization (WTO) pledges, a former top trade negotiator has said.

"It's just not true to say that China is getting tougher with multinationals doing business in the country," Tong Zhiguang, who is also a former vice-minister of commerce, told China Daily on Monday.

"Instead, I believe the Chinese government is taking a more active and open attitude toward foreign investment in terms of the policies concerned," China's former WTO chief negotiator said.