China's door opens wider to outside world: premier

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with foreign representatives of the China Development Forum (CDF) 2017 in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, March 20  -- China will open its door wider to the outside world, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday.

Li made the remarks when meeting with overseas representatives at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing.

China will relax market access in service industries, manufacturing and mining, said Li

China supports foreign-funded enterprises to list and issue bonds in China and participate in national science and technology programs as well as infrastructure construction, he said.

China will streamline the administrative procedures for foreign investments and create a fair competition environment for all companies registered in China, he said.

He welcomed more foreign companies to invest in China, cooperate with Chinese enterprises and enjoy development opportunities together.

Li said the Chinese economy has achieved steady growth, with continued improvement in its quality and efficiency.

China is making efforts to advance supply side structural reform, seek growth driven by innovation, promote entrepreneurship and the "Internet Plus" plan, and to streamline administration, he said.

China will continue to boost the healthy development of emerging industries and is willing to deepen cooperation with foreign governments and enterprises in this field, said Li.

He hoped that other countries overcome the problems of globalization and properly deal with frictions and divergences through dialogue and consultation.

China will steadfastly advance the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, safeguard multilateral trade and support open and transparent regional free trade arrangements, said the premier.

Li answered questions from Stuart Gulliver, the chief executive of the bank HSBC, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator for the Financial Times and Columbia University professor Edmund Phelps.

Overseas representatives lauded China's remarkable progress in stabilizing growth and restructuring the economy, as well as China's active role in coping with climate change.

The representatives voiced their willingness of participating in China's reform and opening-up process and expanding their partnerships with China.

The CDF, organized by the Development Research Center of the State Council, is a high-level meeting that gathers leaders from international institutions, academia and companies worldwide. It is usually held after the annual sessions of China's national legislature and political advisory body.