Li inspects Shaanxi's business environment

Premier says central, western regions well-suited for industry transfer process

Premier Li Keqiang has vowed greater policy support for central and western areas in undertaking the transfer of industries as he urged local authorities to further improve the business environment and optimize workforce quality.

Li made the remark during inspection tours of Xi'an and Xianyang in Shaanxi province on Monday and Tuesday.

China's industry transfer is going in two directions - either overseas or to central and western areas - said the premier as he visited an industry park owned by Chint Group in the province.

There is huge potential for China's central and western provincial areas, with their rich human resources, to participate in industry transfers, he said.

Li pledged more programs and multiple measures to connect provincial areas without access to high-speed railways as he visited a construction site of a railway project connecting Xi'an with Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

He urged efforts to push forward the development of programs that address weaknesses in western areas, saying that effective investment must lay the foundation for growth and improvement in living standards in the area.

Li also visited the chip foundries of Samsung (China) Semiconductor Co in Xi'an.

He said the Chinese market is huge, and its industries are being upgraded to the medium and high end of the global value spectrum which will give rise to enormous business opportunities.

China welcomes high-tech firms, including Samsung, to continue to expand investment in China, the premier said.

He also reiterated the country's commitment to strictly protecting intellectual property rights and offering equal treatment to all businesses registered in China, whether domestic or foreign.

The years of cooperation between Samsung and China showed that high-tech cooperation will bring about high value-added returns, he added.

The premier, while visiting an old neighborhood in Xi'an, highlighted the need to enable the participation of private investors during the renovation of such communities.

Renovation will not only improve living standards of residents, but will also help expand effective investment and consumption, he said.

The improvement in facilities should be coupled with better eldercare and day care to make the communities better places to live, he said.

Li met with young entrepreneurs at a startup community in Xi'an. He called for authorities to create a more enabling environment, with greater financing support and easier market access for innovative products and entrepreneurs.

xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn