Premier Li Keqiang Calls for Deepening Reform and Opening up, Cultivating and Strengthening Market Entities, Making New Breakthroughs in All-round Revitalization of Northeast China 

On June 15 and 16, Li Keqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, together with local government officials including Jing Junhai, Secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Han Jun, Governor of Jilin Province, inspected Songyuan and Changchun. Premier Li Keqiang stressed that all involved under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era should implement the decisions and deployments made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, deepen reform and opening up, cultivate and strengthen market entities and enhance the driving force of economic development. 

Premier Li Keqiang is very concerned about the production of staple grains. In Songyuan, he inspected a corn field, and communicated with the representatives of farmers and technicians, who told Premier Li that this year’s moisture and climate are favorable for a harvest, but the rise of price of such means of production as urea fertilizer and diesel and the drop of core price have caused uneasiness. Premier Li Keqiang required that in such a key period of production of grains effective measures should be taken to stabilize the price of means of production, saying, “China has a large population. With enough to eat, people feel at ease. The price of grains should stand at a reasonable level, the rise of price of means of production should be curbed to protect farmers’ enthusiasm for production. The precious black land should be well protected, and more excellent varieties be cultivated to make the granary of Northeast China full and solid.” 

Premier Li Keqiang inspected the ecological environment of Chagan Lake, saying, “The lake plays an important role in regulating and improving the surrounding ecology. Unremitting effort should be made to protect water environment, and promote the development of fishery and other industries with sound ecological surroundings so as to make the golden plaque of Chagan Lake brighter.” 

Jilin Panpan Food Company was invested by an eastern enterprise. Premier Li Keqiang inquired about the reduction of taxes and fees for the enterprise, inspected its new products and talked with its workers. “Always known as a rising industry, food industry has a large market segmentation space. I hope you can develop more healthy products to meet consumers’ diversified demands,” Premier Li Keqiang said after hearing more will be invested by the enterprise, “Northeast China is an ideal place for investment and residence. Good business environment will attract more investors. Therefore, more should be put into deepening reform, and creating a market-oriented, legalized and internationalized business environment, and cultivating more market entities to make the enterprises from home and abroad more confident in investing here, and thus demonstrate a promising prospect and a great potential for the development of Northeast China.” 

Premier Li Keqiang listened to the report on the revitalization, development, opening up and cooperation of Jilin Province. He inspected the China (Changchun)-ROK International Cooperation Demonstration Zone, and asked the enterprises that had settled in the zone about their feelings about and suggestions for business environment, saying, “Both big companies and small and medium-sized ones are welcomed to invest here. Many small and medium-sized enterprises have new specialized technologies. Classified services should be provided to increase the number of small and medium-sized enterprises and reinforce the competitiveness of big ones. With the advantage of being close to borders and coastal areas, Northeast China should strive to expand opening up especially to Northeast Asia, seize the opportunity brought about by the signing of the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement to strengthen cooperation, establish a shared industrial chain, and thus add new vitality to the development of Northeast China.” 

At the innovation workshop founded by a private enterprise, Premier Li Keqiang expressed his recognition about the way of having incubation and venture capital combined to promote innovation and government providing convenient on-site service. He watched and praised the innovative achievements, saying, “Big dreams exist in small products.” When asking about the makers’ entrepreneurial experience and their hope for extra support, Premier Li said: “The effort we having been making to promote entrepreneurship and innovation is to stimulate the creative vitality of the society. With all working as one, bringing into full play respective advantages while joining hands to overcome difficulties, we can make the big boat of innovation reach the destinations of success from one to another.” 

Premier Li Keqiang spoke highly of the achievements of Jilin’s socioeconomic development, requiring that under the firm leadership of Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core all involved should forge ahead and overcome difficulties to make new contributions to promoting the all-round revitalization and high-quality development of Northeast China.