Beijing - Almost all European companies operating in China have been affected by the global financial crisis but most remain confident in China's long-term economic prospects if the country allows more openness, a survey released Tuesday found.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said its sixth annual business confidence survey found that members were "bullish on China in most sectors," and ready to expand investments in China if the government creates a "more free, fair and competitive market."

"Our members welcome the stimulus package and the Chinese government's efforts to sustain growth," Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, said at the launch of the survey report.

"But they clearly feel that not enough has been done to unleash the potential of China's economy," Wuttke said of the more than 300 businesses which took part in the survey.

"They identify the promotion of more free competition and the breaking down of existing monopolies as the key actions needed to drive growth, and continue to caution against protectionist reactions that would hamper China's development," he said.

Wuttke said the European Chamber planned to send the survey results to Chinese government agencies, the European Commission and EU member states to lobby for "equal opportunities and a level playing field for all businesses in China."

The survey found that 98 per cent of respondents said the global economic crisis had an impact on their business in China, but 71 per cent believed the Chinese economy was "more resilient" than European and other markets.

More than 50 per cent of respondents agreed that the promotion of freer competition and the breaking of monopolies were the "primary actions needed to drive growth in the years ahead."

But only 13 per cent of EU businesses felt the government's 4-trillion-yuan (590 billion dollars) stimulus package was enough to guarantee long-term growth in China, with
62 per cent saying more measures were needed.

The World Bank this month raised its forecast for China's annual economic growth to 7.2 per cent, saying the country is posting "respectable" growth fuelled by the government's spending package. (dpa)