Economic Daily:

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since reform and opening-up, the private sector of the economy has thrived and made many important achievements. My question is for Mr. Xu. From the perspective of the United Front Work Department, how do you view the role and contribution of the private sector in promoting China's economic and social development? Thank you.

Xu Yousheng:

Thank you for your attention to the private sector. As is well known, the private sector provides an essential economic foundation for upholding and advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to the development of the private sector. On Nov. 1, 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended a symposium on private enterprises and said, "private enterprises and private entrepreneurs belong to our own family." His words warmed the hearts of private entrepreneurs, whether present or not. On various occasions, General Secretary Xi Jinping made important remarks on promoting the healthy growth of the non-public sector and encouraging those working in this sector to achieve success. He required that we shall be firm in consolidating and developing the public sector of the economy and shall remain steadfast in encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non-public sector. To promote healthy growth of the non-public sector, the State Council and local governments at various levels have taken a series of measures to create favorable policy, legal, market, and social environments for the private sector, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law. To encourage those working in the non-public sector to achieve success, we have implemented the principles of trust, solidarity, service, guidance and education, providing guidance for them to enhance their patriotism, professionalism, innovation capacity, compliance with the law, and integrity, make more contributions, and be more qualified in carrying forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Since reform and opening-up, thanks to the strong support from the Party and the government, private enterprises and the private sector have grown stronger and played an irreplaceable role in promoting development, improving people's livelihoods, advancing innovation, deepening reform, and expanding opening up. The private sector accounts for more than 50% of China's tax revenues, more than 60% of GDP, more than 70% of technological innovations, more than 80% of urban employment, and more than 90% of enterprises. By the end of 2020, the number of Chinese private enterprises exceeded 40 million. The scale and development quality of the top 500 Chinese private enterprises have also significantly improved. We are delighted to have seen that private enterprises show gratitude for the Party's support and actively contribute to our social development. I would like to share two sets of figures with you. First, in September 2015, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and the China Glory Society jointly initiated a targeted poverty alleviation program, calling for private enterprises to help poverty-stricken villages. By the end of 2020, 127,000 private enterprises had offered targeted support for 139,000 villages, investing 110.59 billion yuan in developing local industries and 16.86 billion yuan in promoting public works projects. Their support helped create more than 900,000 jobs and benefitted over 18 million people registered as living below the poverty line. Second, in the fight against COVID-19, private enterprises donated a total of 17.2 billion yuan, accounting for about 60% of the donations of the society, and their in-kind donations were worth 11.9 billion yuan. Responding to the Party's call, private enterprises did all they could to ensure the production and supply of anti-epidemic materials and actively resume work, production and business in an orderly manner, thus making a great contribution to coordinating the fight against the virus with efforts to continue economic and social development. Thank you.