Premier Li urges cutting enterprise burdens

2017-02-08
english.gov.cn

Premier Li Keqiang inspects the citizens’ service center in Shiyan city of Hubei province on May 23, 2016.

Enterprises are the source of market vitality, and the government should step up efforts to cut unreasonable fees for businesses to lower institutional costs, said Premier Li Keqiang at the State Council executive meeting on Feb 8.

Since 2013, said the Premier, local governments and related departments have introduced different measures to reduce fees and costs, and the tax reform launched last year further cut enterprise burdens and vitalized the market.

Departments under the State Council should press ahead with efforts to continue cutting unreasonable costs for enterprises, he said.

Many enterprises complain that they have to deal with various types of fees and several different departments, and the standards vary, with too much room for random decisions, said Premier Li.

According to the Premier, the government should formulate a fee list by the end of the year, a clear criteria for all players, adding that a market economy should be ruled by laws and rules.

Equal and sufficient competition among all market players is the lifeblood of the market and economy. Intermediaries that might illegally collect fees from enterprises must be banned, said the Premier.

Premier Li said the government should cut administrative costs and run on a tight budget that leads to cost reductions for enterprises and people.

He added that a long-term, systematic, and effective solution should be offered to cut costs for enterprises and optimize the environment for the real economy.

All departments should work around the clock and effectively reduce costs for market players by the end of the year, said the Premier.