Govt to maintain opening-up and building new strengths

China will continue the efforts to promote all-round opening-up and foster new strengths in international economic cooperation and competition, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday when delivering the Government Work Report at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress.

Li said China will open more sectors and improve the process of opening-up. The country will continue to promote opening-up based on flows of goods and factors of production, and give greater emphasis to opening-up based on rules and related institutions, he said.

The move is a part of China's decades-long efforts to pursue the set course of opening-up, so as to maintain domestic growth momentum and contribute more to the world economy.

China will step up efforts to diversify export markets and actively expand imports, Li said. To better attract foreign investment, China will further relax controls over market access, shorten the negative list for foreign investment, and permit wholly foreign funded enterprises to operate in more sectors, Li added.

The country will further align the policies with international trade rules, enhance policy transparency and consistency in implementation, and create a fair market environment where Chinese and foreign companies are treated equally, Li said.

Li said China will continue to push forward China-US trade negotiations. The country is committed to mutually beneficial cooperation and aiming to settle trade disputes through discussions in an equal manner. He stressed the country is resolute in safeguarding its lawful rights and interests.