SHENZHEN — Premier Li Keqiang on Aug 16 called for efforts in the country's economic powerhouses to meet their due responsibilities on consolidating economic recovery.

Premier Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in Shenzhen while presiding over a symposium on the economic situation. Leading officials of six major economic provinces — Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan — spoke at the meeting or via video link.

Premier Li stressed efforts to shore up market entities, stabilize employment and prices, and guarantee people's livelihoods.

Noting that China's economy is in a critical stage of stabilization, Premier Li urged the adoption of a sense of urgency in the country's endeavors to consolidate recovery momentum.

The country should fully implement the new development philosophy and coordinate epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development in a highly efficient way, Premier Li said.

The six provinces contribute to 45 percent of the country's total economic output, Premier Li said, calling the provinces the pillars of the country's economic development while urging them to take a key role in stabilizing economic growth.

Premier Li urged the economic powerhouses to ensure solid implementation of a package of pro-growth policies while leveraging policies to energize market entities, smooth logistics, and stabilize industrial and supply chains.

The local governments should tighten their belts, put existing assets to better use, maintain a balance between revenue and expenditure, and guarantee fiscal spending in ensuring people's livelihoods, Premier Li said.

Premier Li urged efforts to ensure the stability of market entities in order to stabilize the economy and employment. Noting that the six provinces boast over 40 percent of China's market entities, which offer more than 40 percent of the country's job opportunities, he stressed work to step up support for enterprises to tide over difficulties and resume vitality.

Measures should be taken to promote consumption in these provinces, each with a large population, Premier Li said, urging the boosting of big-ticket consumption, including auto consumption, while satisfying rigid housing demand and the demand for housing improvement.

Premier Li also called for ramping up financial support for localities with more qualified projects through special local government debts and policy-based and developmental financial instruments. He urged localities to accelerate the construction of mature projects to increase effective investment and related consumption.

He said that the six provinces should continue their explorations on reform, deepen reforms to streamline administration and delegate power, and further stimulate market vitality and social creativity.

Premier Li also urged the six provinces to promote opening-up at a higher level and stabilize foreign trade and investment to realize mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.