Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye

On the afternoon of April 9, Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, chaired a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs to solicit opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and the next steps in economic work.

On the afternoon of April 9, Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, chaired a symposium with economic experts and entrepreneurs to solicit opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and the next steps in economic work.

At the symposium, Zhang Bin, Li Xunlei, Shen Jianguang, Wan Min, Zheng Jin, Peng Zhihui, Wang Zuan and others spoke one after another. They held that since the beginning of this year, China's economy has been generally stable and has moved toward new and better development, with new growth drivers expanding at a faster pace. Although changes in the external environment have brought many difficulties, China's economy has many advantages, strong resilience and great potential, and its long-term development prospects remain promising. They also put forward opinions and suggestions on responding to external shocks and promoting sustained improvement in the economy.

After carefully listening to the speeches of the experts and entrepreneurs, Li Qiang said that this year's situation is rather special. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have calmly responded to various risks and challenges, and the economy continued its recovery and improvement in the first quarter. At the same time, we must clearly see that external shocks have put certain pressure on the smooth operation of China's economy. We have made full estimates of this and are prepared to deal with various uncertain factors. China's development has always advanced by overcoming difficulties and challenges. As long as we firm up confidence, work together in unity and unswervingly run our own affairs well, we will surely turn crises into opportunities and promote the steady and sustained development of the Chinese economy.

Li Qiang stressed that in the face of new changes in the domestic and international situation, it is particularly important to do a good job in economic work in the second quarter and beyond, and all work must be continuously intensified and made more effective. We should implement a more proactive and effective macro policy, move ahead to push established policies to take effect as soon as possible, promptly introduce new incremental policies as required by the situation, and respond to the uncertainty of the external environment with strong and effective policies. We should expand and strengthen the domestic circulation, take expanding domestic demand as a long-term strategy, step up efforts to stabilize employment and increase incomes, accelerate the release of the potential of service consumption while advancing trade-ins of consumer goods, promote the integrated development of technological and industrial innovation, and lead and create demand with high-quality supply. We should fully stimulate the vitality of all types of market entities, thoroughly implement various supportive policies, work hard to regulate law enforcement involving enterprises, further resolve problems such as payment arrears and difficult and costly financing, earnestly help enterprises solve difficulties in development, and strive to provide enterprises with a better development environment and policy services.

Li Qiang expressed the hope that entrepreneurs will cultivate a deep sense of patriotism, actively respond to changes and promote development, make their enterprises stronger, better and larger, and make greater contributions to the overall development of the country. He also hoped that experts and scholars will give full play to their professional strengths and offer more forward-looking and constructive opinions on new situations and new problems in economic operation.

Wu Zhenglong attended the symposium.