Premier thanks groups at seminar for contributions to nation's development

Addressing a seminar of non-Communist parties on Monday, Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of building consensus among all sectors as the government pushes for deeper reforms in 2014.

He said brainstorming and consensus are needed as the government strives to resolve problems encountered during development and reform. In the course of that, he said, resources from all sectors need to pull together.

"It is a mission for us all," he told representatives from eight non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and other attendees without party affiliations.

The seminar was held to seek opinions from the group about the State Council's annual Government Work Report.

It was the third straight seminar that the premier has held to solicit thoughts and suggestions about the report.

The report is to be delivered to the plenary session of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, in early March, and Li will summarize the objectives of his first year as premier and map out major economic policies for 2014.

The contents of the report will not be released until the opening of the session.

The suggestion-seeking process with non-Communist parties is a "set procedure" for the State Council as it drafts its annual work report, Li said, noting that the procedure is a reflection of the Party's longstanding policy toward non-Communist parties.

"We stand together heart to heart, no matter in winds or in rains," he said.

Li thanked the non-Communist parties at the seminar for their contribution to the country's development and their support of the government.

Chen Changzhi, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association, hailed the government's efforts in 2013 for achieving the major economic goals that it set at the beginning of the year.

China's gross domestic product expanded 7.7 percent year-on-year in 2013, above the official target of 7.5 percent.

Wang Qinmin, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, suggested the State Council should issue more policies to encourage private enterprises to enter various industries.

The federation delivered an independent assessment on the development of private investment in 2013 and pointed out many unsuitable policies that have hindered the development of a market economy.

Saying the report "touched the thoughts" of many senior officials, Li asked the federation to deliver a follow-up report this year, and encouraged non-Communist parties to make more suggestions about the government's work in the future.