Premier Wen calls for support to private companies amid global downturn

Source: Xinhua | 03-10-2009 08:07

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday called for greater support to private companies amid the global financial crisis.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) joins a panel discussion  with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National  People's Congress (NPC) from east China's Zhejiang Province,  in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2009.  (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The government should give greater support to not only state-owned enterprises but private companies "as long as they can boost economic development and create jobs", said Wen when joining lawmakers from the eastern Zhejiang Province in a panel discussion during the annual parliament session.

The non-public sector including private companies is an important part of the socialist market economy, and private enterprises play an important and indispensable role in tackling the global financial crisis, he said.

The government should clear obstacles in existing institutions to help the companies solve difficulties in financing to provide a "fair competition environment" for the non-public sector, he said.

Editor:Liu Anqi