Hebei TV:
Economic development in Hebei has entered a stage featuring fast, stable and healthy progress. We have noticed that, this year, the number of market entities in Hebei has increased rapidly. What has the provincial government done to improve the business environment, such as launching major projects and changing the proportion of foreign investment? What do the figures mean in practice?
Wang Dongfeng:
This is an important question. A good business environment is critical to the development of Hebei. It involves promoting economic development, providing services to enterprises and the general public, establishing a good local credit system, building integrated government programs, and launching reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers and improve regulation.
The provincial Party committee and the provincial government regard improving the business environment as a major political task. We focus on fostering a sound environment in legal, market, service and administrative fields, and promoting fair and just market competition. Our aims are boosting economic progress, promoting quality development, serving enterprises to enhance their competitiveness, and serving the people to ensure they feel more satisfied and happier.
A series of effective measures have been undertaken in this regard. Last year, on the first day back to work after the Spring Festival, the provincial Party committee and the provincial government held a meeting on developing innovation and business startups, and better serving enterprises and the general public. This year, on the first day back to work after the Spring Festival, we held a meeting on promoting the development of innovation and business start-ups, improving people's livelihood, and intensifying discipline. In the past two years, we have spared no efforts in pursuing these goals. Focusing on reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers and improve regulation. We have improved the construction of a social credit system and enterprise credit system in an all-round way. Historic changes have taken place in the investment environment, with more market entities emerging. The core competitiveness of enterprises has been improved, and the public is becoming more satisfied, happier and more secure.
Major measures we have taken include: First, intensifying efforts in developing innovation and business start-ups, and in serving enterprises and the people, so as to stimulate the vitality of market entities. Last year, the number of market entities reached 5.38 million in Hebei, with a year-on-year increase of 14.5%, while the number of high-tech enterprises and high-tech SMEs increased by 1,800 and 13,000 respectively.
Second, intensifying our efforts to improve the public livelihood, so as to guarantee and improve production and living conditions. We always put people first in development. Sufficient funds have been earmarked in the government budget to improve the public livelihood. More than 80% of our expenditure has gone to this field. Governments at all levels have worked together and launched 20 related projects. The emphasis has been on employment, medical treatment, education, elderly care, social security, amid other issues. Constant progress has been made in the process. Last year, new jobs were offered to 870,000 people, and the per capita disposable personal income in urban and rural areas grew 8% and 8.9% respectively. In the first quarter this year, new jobs were offered to 266,000 people, and the per capita disposable personal income in urban and rural areas grew 7.9% and 8.9% respectively. These have made people feel more satisfied than before.
Third, there has been an intensification of the efforts in discipline, and improving reforms to streamline administration, delegate powers and improve regulation. We established a bureau responsible for administrative examination and approval. Services are offered online and in the service hall. Examination and approval powers are now in the charge of one department, while law enforcement power goes to another. Enterprises and the general public can enjoy one-stop services both online and offline. A total of 70 issues previously subject to administrative examination were cancelled. No government administrative fees were levied in the province. We welcome all media outlets to supervise us, and inform us of any malpractices. No tolerance will be given to those violating rules. We will also fully implement the policies on reducing taxes and fees made by the Party central committee and the State Council this year, and try our best to achieve real results. Negligence of duty and malpractice will be severely punished. Last year, we investigated 7,972 cases related to the "Four Malfeasances," in which 9,184 people were held accountable. In the first four months this year, we probed 925 similar cases, in which 1,211 people were held accountable. These efforts have greatly improved officials' performance, made them more active in taking responsibilities and carrying out works, and protected their enthusiasm, initiative and innovation in serving enterprises and the people. Meanwhile, Party committees and governments at all levels have taken their own responsibilities in protecting officials who are deligent and daring in work. An incentive system and a sound environment have been created.
Improving the business environment is our approach to implement new development philosophy and achieve the Party's objectives. It marks a revolution in our own established practices. It is an effective measure to improve reform and opening up, and improve law-based governance. It is also a long-term mission in which we have only achieved some preliminary results. Improving the business environment is a task that will never end, as there will be new needs in new eras. We will work harder and never stop our efforts in this field. We also welcome you to watch over our work, find our errors, and give us advice. Thank you.
