On May 25, after the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 13th NPC was closed, Zhong Shan, Minister of Commerce, Miao Wei, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment went on "minister aisle" and received "cloud interviews" from media and journalists via online video, focusing on hot issues such as how to stabilize the overall performance of foreign trade and foreign investment, how to overcome difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises, how to play the role of 5G, and how to further coordinate epidemic prevention and control, and ecological and environmental protection.
Zhong Shan, Minister of Commerce: take multiple measures to stabilize the overall performance of foreign trade and foreign investment.
Since the outbreak of covid-19, the global economy has been severely impacted, and China's foreign trade and foreign investment have been under increasing pressure. Against this background, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council made decisions and plans to stabilize the basic market of foreign trade and foreign investment.
Zhong Shan believes that stabilizing the overall performance of foreign trade and foreign investment is of great importance. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China's foreign trade and foreign investment have developed rapidly, making important contributions to China's economic and social development. First, its contribution to economic growth. Foreign trade and foreign investment have become important driving forces for China's economic growth. Second, the contribution to the fiscal revenue. Foreign trade and foreign investment contribute more than 25% to our tax revenue. Third, the contribution to China's employment. Foreign trade and foreign investment directly and indirectly created more than 200 million jobs, of which more than 80 million were migrant workers. Fourth, it has made important contributions to the development of China's open economy.
In Zhong Shan's view, first of all, the main task of stabilizing foreign trade and foreign investment is to stabilize China's foreign trade and foreign investment in the global power status. Secondly, the contribution made by foreign trade and foreign investment to economic and social development should be stabilized. Zhong Shan stressed that stabilizing the main body of foreign trade should be given priority in terms of foreign trade. At present, there are more than 300,000 foreign trade entities of various types in China, including private enterprises, state-owned enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises. Faced with the impact of the epidemic, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council provided policy assistance and support in the areas of fiscal taxation, finance and insurance, industrial chain and supply chain, which reduced the pressure on enterprises and stimulated their vitality.
In terms of foreign capital, first, the increment of foreign capital should be expanded. We should open up the door wider to the world, ease market access and shorten the negative list, at the same time, build a higher level of platform for opening up to the world, in particular, build pilot free trade zones and speed up the construction of free trade ports so that foreign investors will be willing to invest in China. Secondly, the stock of foreign investment should be stabilized. We should create a fair, just and transparent business environment, protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign businesses, and protect their intellectual property rights, so that foreign businesses can feel at ease and be willing to invest and develop in China.
Miao Wei, Minister of Industry and Information Technology: we will promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and boost the production and marketing of new-energy vehicles.
The epidemic has caused a huge impact on economic and social activities and posed severe challenges to the operation and development of SMES.
Miao pointed out that China lowered taxes and fees for SMES and other enterprises last year, and would continue to implement the policy this year. In response to the situation of epidemic prevention and control, the central government has introduced a total of 90 policies relevant to fiscal taxation, finance, social security which have helped SMES overcome their current difficulties. The next step will be carried out from three aspects. First, we will make good use of the coordination mechanism of the office of the leading group for promoting the development of SMES under the State Council. Second, we urge all localities to coordinate their efforts to promote the development of SMES, and formulate relevant policies for local SMES in light of local conditions. Third, in the second half of this year, third-party assessment agencies will be organized to assess the implementation of policies in various regions.
Miao said that since the outbreak of the epidemic, the production and sales of new energy vehicles had been greatly affected, just like that of traditional vehicles. "The central government has formulated policies and measures to promote the development of new energy vehicles. In particular, the two policies, subsidies for new energy vehicles and tax exemption for car purchases, which should be completed by the end of this year, will be postponed for two years." Miao Wei pointed out that the production capacity of new-energy vehicles in April has basically reached the same level as that of the same period last year. The next step will be to continue in three areas. First, on the supply side, we will further strengthen the reform of "delegate power and optimize service", and release new energy vehicle OEM production in an orderly manner. At the same time, we will carry out self-inspection and self-certification for enterprises with testing capabilities to reduce repeated testing. In addition, r & d innovative new energy vehicle enterprises will carry out the pilot of brand authorization. Second, one the demand side, local government should be encouraged to use more new-energy vehicles in public services to expand the demand for new-energy vehicles. Third, on user side, we will continue to increase infrastructure construction for charging and replacing electricity, and encourage interconnection of all types of charging and replacing electricity facilities. Local governments should unveil preferential policies on parking and driving for the use of new-energy vehicles.
Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment: we will coordinate epidemic prevention and control, and ecological and environmental protection.
The epidemic put forward new requirements and challenges to China's ecological and environmental protection. As for how to coordinate the prevention and control of the epidemic and the protection of the ecological environment, Huang said, first, we should firmly grasp the strategic focus of ecological environment protection, adopt a new development philosophy, keep the direction and intensity of ecological and environmental protection unchanged, and remain steadfast in the following three areas: we will continue to give priority to the ecological environment and pursue green development, we will continue to combat environmental pollution and protect the ecological environment in accordance with the law, we will uphold the bottom line of environmental protection. Second, the pace and intensity of ecological and environmental protection work should be optimized. We should pay more attention to the precise control of pollution, the scientific control of pollution, the law of pollution control, the appropriate strategies and methods in light of local conditions. We should be precise in problem, time, location, objects and measures. We must put our efforts at the key point and spend our energy precisely in the protection of the ecological environment. Third, we should provide guidance and assistance to local governments in their work. Since May this year, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment dispatched a number of teams to guide and assist local governments, cities, counties and enterprises, achieving "one policy for one place" and "one strategy for one enterprise". To sum up, we should not only serve the "six stability goals" and support the "six guarantees", but also complete the ecological and environmental protection work in the 13th five-year plan period to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Huang thought that the central environmental protection inspection had passed five years, the result was remarkable. It is embodied in the following aspects. First, it had promoted the implementation of Xi Jinping thoughts on ecological civilization. Second, prominent ecological and environmental problems around a number of people had been solved. A total of 198,000 reports were received by environmental inspectors in each round, 542 major ecological and environmental problems were transferred to local governments who were required to rectify. Third, the long-term development of the ecological environment protection system had been promoted. "I think it can be summed up in four sentences: people thumb up, the central government affirms, local government supports, the problem has been solved", Huang Runqiu said. (by Zheng Fangfang, GMW reporter)
