Chinese Premier Li Keqiang answers questions of the media in a press conference during the closing ceremony of the Two Sessions on March 15 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (PNA Photo by Kris Crismundo)
BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China further eased its policies to attract foreign investments to the country.
In a press conference Friday, Li said the National People’s Congress (NPC) -- China’s top legislation body -- has passed the Foreign Investment Law during the second session of the 13th NPC.
More than opening up the market to foreign players, he added that the Chinese government is committed to protect the growing interest of foreign companies in investing in China.
“As China takes its own initiative to open up, we adopt the principle of competitive neutrality and treat both domestic and foreign enterprises as equal. Likewise, we also need to treat all businesses in the various types of ownership as equal,” he said.
He said the government will further shorten its foreign negative list to allow more foreign investors to invest in various industries in the Chinese market.
The Chinese government will also strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, particularly for technology firms that will invest in China.
Li said the government will push for the creation of conducive business environment for micro and small enterprises.
The Chinese Premier admitted that financing cost has been a challenge for micro and small businesses in China so there is the need to take “multi-pronged approach” to significantly ease these constraints for enterprises.
“Our goal, is to further cut financing cost for micro and small companies by another one percentage point this year,” Li said.
“We will encourage financial institutions to enhance their internal management system and provide more services to private companies and micro and small companies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lianghui or the Two Sessions concluded here Friday.
Lianghui is the annual plenary sessions of the NPC and China’s top consultative body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
During the Two Sessions, the Chinese government reports its achievement from the previous year and bares its plans and policies for the year ahead. (PNA)
