Red Star News:

Last year, the Chinese government released a series of policies to ensure stability on six fronts and security in six areas. What feedbacks did you receive from small and medium-sized enterprises when preparing the Report on the Work of the Government? How did those policies help them and what supporting policies, including policies regarding the alleviation of financial burden among MSMEs, will be extended this year? Thank you.

Sun Guojun:

I have mentioned this previously when answering questions regarding last year's macro policies and this year's policy focuses. Please let me add a couple of things. Last year, the difficulties rarely seen in history directly impacted Chinese MSMEs, as well as self-employed individuals, creating significant pressure. The macro policies of the central government helped them overcome these difficulties. Local authorities carried out a series of flexible policies according to practical needs, including reducing and waiving house rent to support MSMEs, as well as self-employed individuals. A sentence in the Report on the Work of the Government says, "Market entities, over one hundred million in number, responded to shocks with fortitude and resilience." All businesses have paid a lot; many of them didn't cut jobs, or only cut a small number of jobs, and made it through together with their employees. Last year was truly challenging both for the whole country and for every market entity. 

This year, in accordance with the deployment of the CPC Central Committee, we will continue to help market entities solve difficulties. Fiscal and monetary policies, and policies on employment and even reform all aim to stimulate business vitality, improve business environment, and provide further support to MSMEs, as well as self-employed individuals. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you to our speakers, and also to all the friends of the press. That's all for today's press conference. Goodbye, everyone.

Translated and edited by Yang Xi, Li Xiao, Wang Qian, Zhu Bochen, He Shan, Liu Jianing, Lin Liyao, Fan Junmei, Zhang Tingting, Huang Shan, Xu Xiaoxuan, Li Huiru, Guo Yiming, Liu Sitong, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.