Premier calls for quicker support for businesses

A resident shops at a bakery in Xiangfang district of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on April 11, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua)

Premier Li Keqiang has urged a quicker rollout of financial support measures to businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that some companies are at a key juncture for survival as the nation grapples with its biggest COVID-19 challenge since the early days of the outbreak.

Li made the remark during an inspection tour in Jiangxi province on Monday and Tuesday, where he spoke with business leaders, farmers and construction workers and held a symposium with governors from five provinces.

Li highlighted the need to expedite the implementation of aid packages for businesses and come up with a strong response to the unexpected changes in both domestic and international environments.

During a visit to a construction site of a water conservancy project in the province, he called for quicker issuance and use of special bonds, greater credit support and improved efficiency in project approval to expand effective investment and create more jobs for migrant workers.

The premier visited Meifanco, a cross-border e-commerce platform, where he encouraged the company to help more people start businesses and find jobs.

He reiterated the significance of spurring market vitality and social creativity with the deepening of reform and encouraging mass entrepreneurship and innovation to enable new business models to blossom.

Li spoke with farmers at a rice paddy in Hengfeng county, where he called for continuous efforts to stabilize the prices of production materials for agricultural production.

He pledged to issue new subsidies to farmers if the price of agricultural production materials remains high in autumn.

The premier visited a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, one of China's largest private carmakers.

The development of new energy is helping the diversification of China's energy sector and the nation's energy security, he said.

He encouraged carmakers to roll out more products that are of high quality, safe and welcomed by the market.

During exchanges with executives of small and medium-sized enterprises, Li was told that they are still troubled by gridlocks in logistics, which has increased their stockpiles.

He called for quicker steps in tax refunds to deliver true benefits to the businesses at an early date.

The premier reiterated the importance of ensuring the orderly operation of transportation networks and domestic and international logistics to ensure the stability of industry and supply chains.

He encouraged businesses to try their best to stabilize their payrolls and get through their difficulties with their workers.