President Xi Jinping inspects an industrial park producing auto parts and molds in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on March 29, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Policies pledged to shield such firms from being seriously impacted by COVID-19

President Xi Jinping pledged on Sunday to take measures to protect small and medium-sized companies from being seriously impacted by the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark while inspecting an industrial park producing auto parts and molds in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

Xi said all kinds of enterprises could be affected by the epidemic outbreak, and the State has taken small and medium-size companies into special consideration as it appraised the situation.

President Xi Jinping inspects an industrial park producing auto parts and molds in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on March 29, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The central government has produced a set of policies, and the policies will be adjusted in a timely manner in accordance with changes in the situation to protect small and medium-size companies from being seriously impacted, Xi said.

Xi encouraged companies to return to normal operating condition as soon as possible and even make new progress. Disease prevention and control work should not be relaxed, while the resumption of work and production should be accelerated at the same time, Xi said.

He told workers they should work to resume production and also protect their health.

President Xi Jinping visits the Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one of the world's top container ports, on March 29, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi also visited the Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on Sunday, one of the world's top container ports, which handled about 1.12 billion metric tons of cargo in 2019.

Zhejiang is one of the provinces heavily engaged in international trade, and its businesses are quickly resuming operations.

Jiang Jindong, vice-president of Zhejiang Panshi Information Technology Co, an internet company based in Hangzhou, said on Monday that over 90 percent of its workforce in China has returned to work, and the company is sparing no effort in enhancing anti-epidemic endeavors involving its 1,500 workers abroad.

"Our overseas branches in countries such as India and Vietnam were also hit by the pandemic, and the pandemic has made it difficult to undertake overseas marketing campaigns due to border controls," said Jiang, who is also vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Chamber of International Commerce.

President Xi Jinping visits the Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one of the world's top container ports, on March 29, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Xi's trip to Ningbo further enhances our confidence in innovating in our business operations and better facilitating global e-commerce transactions and investments. Despite these temporary difficulties, we are cautiously optimistic about a sound recovery and development in the middle and long run, especially with China gradually bringing the novel coronavirus epidemic under control," he added.

Qin Jian, who runs two chain hotels in Ningbo, said his worries about the business have been partly alleviated by the local government's supportive policies.

"The hotel industry has been one of the most heavily affected by the pandemic, but I believe eventually all the difficulties will be overcome," he said.

Qin's hotels have reopened and business is on the rise. He said he plans in the coming days to offer more discounts or other incentives to attract consumers.

Wang Lei, who owns a Hangzhou company that exports fireproof materials, said although the spread of the virus worldwide poses difficulties for his overseas business, he is still confident in global trade and looks forward to a rebound soon.

"The visit that President Xi paid to Zhejiang and what he said to local workers consolidated my confidence," said Wang.

"Smaller companies are going through a difficult time and support from government is one of the most effective remedies for our anxiety," Wang said.

Qin Jirong contributed to this story.