Update | China’s premier joins the start-up crowd at entrepreneurs' café in innovation push

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China's Premier Li visits the Zhongguancun technology park. Photo: QQ.com

Published: 3:00pm, 7 May 2015Updated: 9:38pm, 7 May 2015

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Beijing's start-up hub this morning, a fresh sign of support for the mainland's push to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

Li visited Inno Way, a street in the Zhongguancun Hi-Tech Development Zone that the city government took over last year to turn into a place for budding entrepreneurs.

Photographs on social media showed Li having a drink at 3W Coffee, the mainland's first crowdfunded start-up cafe that has recently been in the news for its ambitious plan to open 100 stores in 10 major cities across the mainland.

China’s leaders are promoting innovation in an attempt to reverse a slowdown in the economy and to promote restructuring. On Wednesday the State Administration of Taxation said it would cut unnecessary tax hurdles to support emerging industries and urged local tax authorities to properly implement tax relief measurse for start-ups.

Representatives for the coffee shop confirmed Li's visit, but declined to comment further.

Li takes a drink in the 3W start-up cafe. Photo: QQ.com

3W was established in November 2010 with seed investments from about 180 investors. The most influential start-up born from the cafe so far is Lagou, a recruiting website for technology jobs.