Zhang Qingwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, led a team to East China’s Shandong province to survey the development of the private economy from April 9 to 12.

The team travelled to cities including Dezhou and Ji'nan, where they visited enterprises and industrial parks in the fields of high-end manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, the digital economy and cultural tourism to learn about the development of the local private economy.

Zhang fully commended the progress of the private economy in Shandong, and expressed the hope that the province will fully leverage the role of the private economy to contribute to Chinese modernization.

He emphasized the need to prioritize the development of the private economy, steadfastly support the growth and strength of private enterprises, and continuously stimulate the vitality of various private entities.

Zhang called for firming up confidence in development and resolving the difficulties, bottlenecks and challenges that hinder the growth of the private economy through the combined efforts of the government, enterprises and other relevant parties, thus promoting the high-quality development of the private sector.

Efforts should be made to optimize the development environment for the private economy, strengthen legal guarantees and support for the development of private enterprises and protect their legitimate rights and interests, so as to create favorable conditions for private entrepreneurs to invest and start businesses, he said.