‘Two sessions’ 2022: as small-business concerns persist, China’s No 4 official tries to calm frayed nerves
- ‘Do not believe nor circulate’ attempts to question China’s basic economic system, China’s CPPCC chairman tells representatives of business communities
- Wang Yang acknowledges that pandemic and China’s shifting economic development model put pressure on private firms, but says these are more ‘short-term’ difficulties
The country will stick to its reform and opening-up policies, while the promise of “unswervingly” encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sector will not change, and neither will the basic economic system that strives for the “common development of various forms of ownership”, according to Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
“This is decided by the party’s basic theory, basic line and basic strategy, having the guarantee of the constitution and laws,” Wang, who is No 4 in the party hierarchy, was quoted by People’s Daily as saying.
“Any words and deeds that negate or doubt the basic economic system are not in line with the party’s general principles. Do not believe nor circulate them,” he reportedly told representatives of business communities at a meeting held during the ongoing “two sessions” policy-setting gatherings in Beijing.
Wang’s comments serve to reinforce the greater emphasis that Beijing has placed on job security in the government’s 2022 work report. China’s private sector is responsible for about 80 per cent of the nation’s urban jobs.
