Workers weld at a workshop of an automobile manufacturing enterprise in Qingzhou City, east China's Shandong Province.File Photo:Xinhua

Private enterprises in China will enjoy better environment and broader space for development, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday.

Standing at a new starting point, the Chinese government will continue to foster a market-based and law-based business environment in keeping with internaitonal standards, Li said during remarks at a press conference after the closing of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress on Monday.

The government will treat companies as equals regardless of ownership structure, protect the property rights of enterprises and the rights of entrepreneurs in line with laws, promote fair competition among all market entities and support the growth of private enterprises, Li said.

He said private enterprises will have a brilliant future, as China's massive market demand brings many development opportunities and there are many new sectors and many new industries for entrepreneurs to explore and participate in.

He called for private entrepreneurs to carry forward their excellent entrepreneurial spirit and make great achievements with confidence. 

He encouraged government officials at all levels to support the development of private enterprises, build a close and clean government-business relationship and take the lead to respect pioneers and entrepreneurs. "I believe private entrepreneurs will make more splendid entrepreneurial history in the new era," the premier noted.

The premier stressed that the two "unswervinglys" - unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, and unswervingly encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector - is an important part of China's basic economic system. It's the country's long-term economic policy, which did not change in the past and will not change in the future.

He said that the authorities' attitude on the development of the non-public sector is consistent and clear-cut, as has been repeatedly reiterated at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the Central Economic Work Conference.