Special: Premier Li visits Fujian

Premier Li Keqiang visited Fujian province on April 22 - 24 to drive up reforms and bolster economic growth. This special takes a retrospective look at Li's trip and tries to sum up messages behind it.

Li lauded the achievements Fujian has made in economic and social development in recent years and hoped that it will rise as a new force, promote scientific development and bring real benefits to the people by taking advantage of its proximity to Taiwan and grasping the historical opportunity of building the free trade zone.

The Premier arrived straight from the airport in Xiamen and flew right into a visit to a comprehensive administration center at the Xiangyu Free Trade Port Zone, part of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), where he inquired about new measures that simplify the business registration system.?

Enterprises that previously had to visit four departments for administrative approvals will be able to complete all the procedures through a new platform. >>>

In the afternoon, Li inspected a handful of Taiwan-funded companies and presided over a seminar where he heard opinions from Taiwan entrepreneurs.

Li has pledged to continue existing preferential policies, including tax reductions, for Taiwan-invested companies to help them counteract a business recession brought about by the slowdown of the mainland economy and economic restructuring. >>>

Li then toured Xiamen University, where he advised the students to read every day and said that the classics and the work of previous generations will broaden their horizons.

The Premier asked what was the university's "secret weapon" that allowed it to achieve an employment rate of 97 percent for graduates. He praised the fact that graduates from the university are capable of both attaining a good position in the workforce but are also willing to be flexible to garner experience. >>>

Premier Li?inspected two companies in Quanzhou, encouraging the upgrade of traditional sectors and Chinese manufacturing.

During his visit to Pin Shang E-commerce Co., the Premier praised the company’s new operation mode of "Internet Plus" — the integration of the Internet and traditional industries through online platforms and IT technology. He also visited the J-TECH CNC Machinery Co. and encouraged it to carry out the "Made in China 2025" program. >>>

Li then travelled to Fuzhou, capital of Fujian, to revisit a relocated family he had met with seven years ago. He felt happy after seeing that the residents had moved into spacious and comfortable new homes and were living a better life.

Li?also inspected a branch of the Industrial Bank, where he urged banks to lower fees, reiterating that banks should further rationalize charges to reduce financing costs for businesses and help them weather the slowdown in economic growth.

He urged financial institutions to come up with more innovative and streamlined approaches to meet the needs of the real economy. >>>

Li spent the last day touring the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a historic block in Fuzhou, where he visited the old residence of Yan Fu, a well-known scholar and translator in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Culture is the root and soul of a city, the Premier said, adding that city planning and construction should be open and absorb modern elements and, at the same time, protect historical memories so as to turn the city into a place suitable to live and do business.?>>>