Premier's visit shows road to innovation for street businesses

Premier Li visits the Kuanzhai Ancient Street in Chengdu in April 2016. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The café's owner Ding Zhi said he saw the premier twice when he went to aid survivors from earthquakes that hit Lushan in Sichuan in 2013 and Ludian in Yunnan province in 2014.

April was the third time he met with the premier who suggested he and other coffee dealers promote domestic brands in the international market, such as Arabic coffee beans grown in Yunnan.

Ding said he will open a chain store in Japan, selling Yunnan Arabic coffee beans, in March.

After Li's visit, the café's business revenue surged to 400,000 yuan a month, double that of previous years, Ding said.

During the visit, the premier showed his interest in private businesses each time he stopped to talk with store owners and inquired about the outcome of replacing business tax with value-added tax.

The premier further explained specific policies to private business owners he met and was told of taxes being reduced under the new policy, especially for food and beverage dealers.

Wang Hong, owner of Sankuaizhuan Restaurant, said she was not 100 percent clear about the replacement but was inspired by talking with the premier regarding tax payments. Wang found the tax rate was lowered to 3 percent from the previous 5 percent, saving her 30,000 yuan a year.

"The alley can be narrow but the vision for benefiting the people must be broadened," the premier told store owners. "This goal can be achieved when innovation is boosted."