Xinhua Agency, Beijing, April 8. Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, presided over a symposium of experts and entrepreneurs on the economic situation on the afternoon of April 8 to listen to opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and the next step of economic work.

At the symposium, Zhang Yuyan, Wu Ge, Peng Wensheng, Bai Zhongen, Gu Jie, Zhang Shaoming, Li Xiande, Jiang Yingwu and others spoke one after another. Everyone believes that since the beginning of this year, in the face of a complex and severe external environment, China's economic performance has continued to pick up and improve. Although there are still many difficulties and challenges, positive factors in economic development continue to increase and market confidence has increased. Everyone analyzed the contradictions and problems existing in the current economic operation from different angles, and put forward opinions and suggestions on further improving macro policies and doing a good job in economic work.

After carefully listening to the speeches of expert entrepreneurs, Li Qiang pointed out that since the beginning of this year, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we have insisted on seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, establishing first and then breaking, and working hard to implement macro-policies, highlighting the work of stabilizing expectations, stabilizing growth, and stabilizing employment, and continuing to exert efforts in changing methods, adjusting structures, improving quality, and increasing efficiency, and the policy effects continue to appear. At the same time, we must be soberly aware that the current external environment is becoming more complex, severe and uncertain, and problems existing in economic operations need to be solved. China's development has a solid foundation, many advantages and huge potential. The long-term positive trend will not change. We are confident and capable of maintaining sustained and healthy economic development.

Li Qiang emphasized that to consolidate and enhance the upward trend of the economy, we must promptly implement the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference and the National Two Sessions, and promote the accelerated implementation of various deployments. It is necessary to continue to consolidate the foundation and cultivate the vitality, coordinate stable growth and increase stamina, give full play to the leading role of policies, further stimulate the vitality of business entities, and enhance the endogenous driving force for development. It is necessary to strengthen the combination effect, enhance the consistency of macro policy orientations, and systematically solve some key and difficult issues. It is necessary to focus on precise policy implementation, seize the prominent contradiction between the key to scientific and technological innovation promoting industrial innovation and the insufficient effective demand, and improve the effectiveness of the implementation of macro policies to the micro. We must resolutely adhere to the bottom line and address both the symptoms and root causes to resolve risks in key areas. We must put people's livelihood work in a prominent position, view the issue of making up for the shortcomings of people's livelihood with a development perspective, and do a good job in people's livelihood one by one.

Li Qiang hopes that experts and scholars will take root in reality and conduct in-depth research to provide more intellectual support for promoting economic and social development. It is hoped that entrepreneurs will focus on innovation and development, actively explore markets, dare to venture and invest, and run their enterprises well in a down-to-earth manner.

Wu Zhenglong attended the symposium.

* * *