[Comprehensive] Li Keqiang: Organize expert research on smog and other major livelihood concerns

On January 13, Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, presided over a symposium to hear experts, scholars, and people from the business community advise on the "Government Work Report (Consultation Draft)".

Zhang Gaoli, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting.

China News Agency Liu Zhenshe

At the meeting, Gao Peiyong of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences proposed to deepen reform of the fiscal and taxation system and increase tax reductions and fee reductions. Zeng Xiangquan of Renmin University of China proposed to highlight key regions, industries and people and implement more targeted employment promotion actions. Zhu Min of Tsinghua University talked about preventing and resolving financial risks and making financial services better for the real economy. Liu Hualong of CRRC Group proposed that it is necessary to continue to create an atmosphere that supports the development and upgrading of the real economy and to give better play to the leading role of leading enterprises. COFCO Zhao Shuanglian suggested that we must accelerate the structural reform of the agricultural supply side and increase the overall agricultural production capacity. According to Li Dongsheng of TCL Group, it is necessary to increase support for the development of strategic emerging industries and important basic core technologies and reduce the burden on enterprises. Mobike’s Hu Weiwei suggested that we should encourage and support technological innovation and promote the development of new industries such as sharing the economy.

Li Keqiang listened carefully to suggestions and made in-depth exchanges with everyone. He said that in the past year, in the face of the grim and complicated situation at home and abroad, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, the whole country has united and struggled to overcome difficulties, and China’s economy has been operating steadily, stably, and well. The employment, the transformation of traditional kinetic energy, the cultivation of new kinetic energy and the upgrading of economic structure have been accelerated, and the people's livelihood has been improved. New and positive progress has been made. The results have not come by easily, and the contribution rate of China’s development to world economic growth has further increased. This year, the complexity of the international environment is further highlighted. Geopolitical risks, changes in the international political structure, and challenges to economic rules all have great uncertainties and multiple impacts. Domestic economic development is also facing greater pressure and difficulties. We must not only strengthen our confidence, but also enhance our sense of crisis, make preparations for the situation, seize the initiative, seize opportunities, and meet the challenges. We will continue to maintain stable economic performance on the basis of continuous improvement in the quality and benefits of growth.

Li Keqiang pointed out that to do a good job in this year's economic work, we must adhere to the general tone of the work of stability and progress, implement the new development concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, and promote the supply-side structural reform as the main line, and continue to promote "One drop and one supplement," centering around the deployment of the Central Economic Work Conference, in the specific work, we must further improve the predictability and accuracy of macro-control, and take measures to address the deep-seated conflicts and potential risks in economic operations. Effective measures to keep the economy running at a reasonable range and consolidate the steady trend toward the good. Further create a good environment for enterprise development, continue to deepen reforms in a comprehensive manner, continue to promote the decentralization of power, integrate and optimize management services, and promptly formulate and gradually improve the list of powers and liabilities, and effectively reduce institutional transaction costs. Adhere to the government's tight schedule, continue to compress general expenses, and free up space for tax cuts and reductions by enterprises. This year we must let the market players feel personal about the reduction of non-tax burdens such as fees and charges, and the State Council must supervise this. We will further accelerate the conversion of new and old kinetic energy, resolutely eliminate backward production capacity, implement more active employment policies, promote popular entrepreneurship and innovation, and create more promising new industries and businesses that can promote employment. Promote the upgrading of traditional industries with new technologies and new models, accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing industries, promote the upgrading of the real economy including the secondary and tertiary industries, and increase the effectiveness of demand. We will further safeguard and improve people’s livelihood, strengthen basic guarantees, and cover the bottom line. We must organize expert research on smog and Other major livelihood issues, scientifically analyze the causes and composition, and further deepen governance measures to ensure that the people’s livelihood improves.

Li Keqiang hopes that the experts will give full play to their advantages and provide more insights. The majority of entrepreneurs must bravely climb new heights in the market competition. Everyone worked together to plan the government's work, complete the task of economic and social development, and resolve public concerns.