Premier calls for efforts to vitalize economic growth

Li notes positive outcomes in prioritized areas of protecting jobs, market players

Premier Li Keqiang has called for unrelenting efforts to protect market players and create jobs while coping with uncertain factors during the course of development, saying that China's economy can attain positive growth this year.

In remarks delivered during an inspection trip to Chongqing on Thursday and Friday, the premier recognized the positive outcomes in macroeconomic regulation in recent months, especially in the prioritized areas of protecting jobs and market players, ensuring people's livelihoods and the security of grain and energy supply, and guaranteeing the stability of industry and supply chains and the functioning of grassroots government bodies.

China has set the goal of creating more than 9 million urban jobs this year and ensuring the survival of over 100 million market players amid the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of economic indicators in July, including exports, factory output and sales of commercial goods, have all pointed to a more sustainable economic recovery in China.

China's exports increased 7.2 percent in July from a year earlier, while the manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to a four-month high of 51.1, beating expectations and landing in expansion territory for a fifth consecutive month.

During the visit, Li spoke with over a dozen executives of smaller firms at the administrative hall in the Liangjiang New Area.

He highlighted the need for further widening market access and stimulating the vitality of market players.

Li lauded the online administrative services offered by local authorities, saying that the government, in its efforts to streamline administration and bolster compliance oversight and services, is aiming to provide the people with a pleasant experience and enough sense of gain as they access administrative services.

The premier also visited businesses, including the outsourcing service provider ZBJ.com, a subsidiary of BOE Technology Group, and Chongqing Changan Automobile.

He called upon western regions to further give play to their strengths and proactively undertake the transfer of industries from eastern areas so as to move further up industry chains.