Chen Wenjun:

Due to time constraints, this will be the last question.

China Daily:

I've noticed that in recent years, Shandong has introduced a series of policies and measures, such as streamlining procedures for starting businesses, among others. How will you further create a more favorable environment for enterprises, allowing them to invest and develop in Shandong with confidence and assurance? Thank you.

Zhou Naixiang:

Thank you for the question. I'll take this one. A good business environment, especially top-notch government services, is the "golden signboard" for economic and social development.

The CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the provincial government place high importance on the business environment, vigorously implementing actions to innovate and enhance the business environment. Shandong is continuously advancing the "Double Full Lifecycle and Double Hundred Services" project to streamline government services. Focusing on the "full life cycles" of both enterprises and individuals, over 100 high-frequency service items have been identified and published. Efforts have been made to achieve simplified, integrated, and comprehensive processing, with significant reductions in the number of procedural steps, application materials, and processing time compared to before the reforms. Shandong has taken the lead in carrying out the "No-Certificate Province" initiative nationwide. To date, 1,098 items have been canceled or shifted to a notification and commitment system for certificates and business licenses, and electronic documentation has been used over 700 million times.

Since last year, we have established a regular mechanism for communication between government and businesses. Leading officials at all levels take the initiative to engage with entrepreneurs through various means, such as visits to enterprises, setting up entrepreneur reception rooms, and face-to-face meetings at chambers of commerce or business associations. At the same time, we have opened a direct hotline to the governor for entrepreneurs, the public number "96178," and established the "2115" rapid-response mechanism for enterprise appeals. Upon receiving an appeal, we ensure on-site arrival or contact within two hours, propose handling suggestions within one working day, and resolve issues or confirm services within 15 working days.

These measures have achieved great results. According to the survey "Business Environment Evaluation by Ten Thousand Private Enterprises," conducted by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), Shandong has been consistently ranked as one of the provinces with the best business environment in the country for four consecutive years.

Going forward, we will actively serve and integrate into the unified national market, promoting an interplay between a well-functioning government and an efficient market. We will strengthen the construction of a rule of law government, effectively address the appeals and issues of enterprises, and enable various types of businesses to invest, innovate and thrive in Shandong.

Dear journalists, Shandong is currently experiencing a convergence of strategic opportunities, solid development foundations, and prominent comparative advantages. Across the province, there is a high spirit of ambition, practical action, and entrepreneurial enthusiasm that continues to soar.

We will place greater emphasis on innovation-driven development, vigorously cultivating and developing new quality productive forces. We will prioritize ecological preservation, firmly following the path of green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. We will focus more on improving the business environment, enabling various businesses to thrive in Shandong. Furthermore, we will pay more attention to benefiting the people, striving to make the lives of those in Shandong more prosperous and fulfilling.

We sincerely invite everyone to visit Shandong to explore and experience "Friendly Shandong, Remarkable Shandong." We welcome your valuable opinions and suggestions on our work. Let us join hands to create a better tomorrow for Shandong together. Thank you all!

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Governor Zhou and all the speakers, and thank you to all the journalists present here. This concludes our press conference. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Wei, Gong Yingchun, Ma Yujia, Zhou Jing, Yuan Fang, Li Xiao, Zhang Junmian, Mi Xingang, Wang Qian, Liu Jianing, Huang Shan, Cui Can, Liu Caiyi, Wang Yanfang, Wang Ziteng, Zhang Rui, Yan Bin, Li Huiru, Liu Qiang, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Rochelle Beiersdorfer. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.