Containers are loaded onto a cargo ship at a port in Tangshan, Hebei province, July 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will expand opening-up, improve business environment, president says

China will keep deepening reform and expanding opening-up and provide a better business environment for the investment and business development of Chinese and foreign enterprises, President Xi Jinping said in a letter of reply to representatives of Global CEO Council members.

In the letter dated on Wednesday, Xi assured the global CEOs that China will foster new opportunities and create new prospects for Chinese and foreign enterprises. He said that those CEOs have made the right choice to stay rooted in China.

Saying the interests of all countries are highly integrated in today's world and humanity is a community with a shared future, Xi said win-win cooperation conforms with the trend of the times.

China unswervingly commits itself to pursuing the path of peaceful development, making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, and promoting the building of an open world economy, the president noted.

Xi expressed hope that those CEOs will adhere to the principle of win-win cooperation and common development, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese companies, and contribute to the world economic recovery.

Speaking of China's economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said the fundamentals of China's long-term sound economic growth remain unchanged and will not change.

China is coordinating efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and socioeconomic development, striving for a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and eradicating poverty, he said.

To this end, Xi said, China will comprehensively implement major policies and measures aimed at ensuring the six priorities of employment, people's livelihoods, development of market entities, food and energy security, stable operation of industrial and supply chains, and smooth functioning at the community level.

It is also making efforts to ensure stability in the six areas of employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectations, he added.

Eighteen CEOs from the Global CEO Council, which groups 39 multinational companies that are global leaders in their respective industries, wrote to Xi recently and offered suggestions on China's economic development and international cooperation in the post-pandemic era.

In their letter to Xi, the CEOs spoke highly of China's efforts to successfully contain the novel coronavirus under Xi's leadership and take the lead in resuming work and production as well as its positive role in supporting the global COVID-19 fight and maintaining global economic stability.

They said that Xi's proposals on creating new opportunities out of crises and opening up new prospects in changing circumstances, as well as his resolve to unswervingly promote economic globalization, have further boosted their confidence in China and their commitment to staying rooted in China.

The Global CEO Council was founded in 2013. The initial CEO Council was formed by the CEOs of 14 multinational companies.