The Chosun Ilbo:

The business activities of enterprises should be subject to the law. Some people believe that strengthening the overall leadership of the Party will negatively impact innovation and long-term investment of enterprises. What are your views on this? My second question is about low birth rates and the sluggish economy, which are common problems facing the world. Do you think the Party's overall leadership system can address these problems? Thank you.

Tian Peiyan:

I'll take your questions. The leadership of the CPC has been stipulated in China's Constitution and the law. The Party leads the people in formulating and implementing the Constitution and the law, and willingly acts within the scope of the Constitution and the law. Thus, abiding by the law is intrinsically unified with upholding Party leadership. Development is the Party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country, and economic development is the central work of the Party. It is natural that the Party's overall leadership will be reflected in the main battlefield of economic development. In an effort to lead and promote the country's sustained and sound economic development, the Party has put forward the development philosophy, formulated major development strategies and plans, clarified major principles and policies, and made major work arrangements. As the micro entities of economic activity, enterprises have been continuously supported by the Party's leadership. The Party's leadership is not only a big boost for enterprises but adds momentum to their development.

As far as state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are concerned, the overall leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee and the unique advantage for their development. In 2016, the CPC Central Committee held a national conference on Party building among SOEs. Since then, Party leadership and Party building have been comprehensively strengthened, and the achievements of SOEs have been witnessed by all. In 2021, the total assets, total profits and revenues of SOEs increased by 117.53%, 95.65% and 66.15%, respectively, compared with 2015. In particular, SOEs have played a crucial role in making breakthroughs in core technologies. In terms of non-public enterprises, the Party has unswervingly encouraged, supported and guided their development, and adopted a series of effective policies and measures to promote business development and the healthy growth of entrepreneurs in the non-public sector. At present, more than 570,000 primary-level Party organizations and over 5.9 million CPC members, who are active in private firms, continue to play an irreplaceable role in business production, operation, innovation and creative activities.

In response to the severe impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the CPC Central Committee has taken well-coordinated steps to balance pandemic countermeasures and socio-economic development, and continued to ensure stability on six key fronts (employment, finance, foreign trade, inbound investment, domestic investment, and market expectations) and security in six key areas (jobs, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments) while maintaining effective COVID-19 prevention and control and protecting the life and health of the people to the maximum extent possible. The CPC Central Committee has stepped up efforts to improve people's living standards, implemented a proactive fiscal policy, prudent monetary policy as well as cross-cyclical and counter-cyclical macro-regulation policies, and adopted specific measures in easing the difficulties of enterprises such as tax and fee cuts, in order to ensure overall stable performance in economic and social development to the maximum extent possible. All these efforts have helped to improve the country's economic resilience and consolidate its long-term growth trend.

Population and birth are important to the well-being of the people. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has improved the childbirth policy in light of China's population development and changes by rolling out supporting policies and measures, including lifting two-child and three-child restrictions, extending maternity leave, and actively developing inclusive child-care services to address people's concerns and help release their potentials of giving birth. The policies and measures are gradually paying off. Thank you.