Greater support for private firms needed, Xi says

General secretary requires more initiatives to promote high-quality development of trade

The importance of supporting the development of private businesses was highlighted at a key Party meeting presided over by President Xi Jinping on Monday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the 10th meeting of the Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform and delivered an important speech.

He required more coordinated efforts to improve the efficiency of reform measures, consolidate the reform outcomes achieved in previous years and promote the improvement of policies in all areas.

During the meeting, leading officials reviewed and adopted a number of documents, guidelines and work plans on such issues as building a better business development environment, supporting the development of private enterprises and promoting the high-quality development of trade.

Both State-owned and private businesses should be guaranteed equal access to production materials, equal and open opportunities to engage in market competition and equal protection under the law, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and a modern services sector is an important way to increase the competitiveness of industry, cultivate a modern manufacturing system and achieve high-quality growth, it said.

More efforts should be made to promote the high-quality development of trade, the statement said. It pointed out that authorities should focus on building the Belt and Road, improving the trade structure and promoting coordinated development of imports and exports, cargo and service trade and other forms of commercial activity.

More measures should be taken to overcome obstacles that hinder the flow of workers and talent, said the statement. It required efforts to create opportunities and facilitate the flow of personnel to ensure everyone has opportunities for development based on hard work.

The importance of national food security was stressed at the meeting, and more efforts were called for to increase food supply, streamline its structure and improve quality, it said.

During the meeting, leading officials also discussed such issues as enhancing supervision of the financial system, increasing the capability of governance, restricting the production and use of plastics and easing burdens on teachers and students in primary and middle schools.