On the afternoon of July 14, heads of some central enterprises, local state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, together with heads of relevant State Council ministries and commissions, entered a meeting room in Zhongnanhai. At 3 p.m., Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council walked into the meeting room on time. He had invited these people to Zhongnanhai precisely because he wanted to hear their views on the economic situation in the first half of the year and to discuss opinions and suggestions on economic development in the second half. During the symposium, which lasted more than two hours, six enterprise heads spoke one after another. Premier Li Keqiang listened carefully and interjected from time to time for in-depth discussion. One remark by one of the entrepreneurs left Premier Li Keqiang ashamed.

Li Keqiang: This time not many representatives of the invited enterprises spoke, but quite a few attended the meeting, especially the heads of our key central enterprises. Everyone should listen — not only comrades from State Council departments, but also comrades from key state-owned enterprises. Listening to the remarks of several enterprise representatives will be enlightening.

Enterprise heads from foreign trade, construction, finance, home appliances, agricultural materials, the Internet and other sectors talked about their views on the current economic situation and the difficulties their enterprises face. The remarks by He Tongxin, chairman of China General Technology Group Holdings Co., Ltd., were several times interrupted by the Premier, who asked for more detailed information. When it came to the problems enterprises face, under the Premier's repeated questioning, He Tongxin said one sentence.

He Tongxin: Premier, as you understand us market entities, we cannot raise opinions carelessly.

Li Keqiang: We have heard you clearly.

It was precisely this seemingly casual remark during the speech that drew Premier Li Keqiang's attention. In his concluding remarks, Premier Li Keqiang told everyone that after hearing this sentence, he felt ashamed.

Li Keqiang: We still have problems. Where are the problems? The remark made by the first comrade to speak should be engraved on the hearts of everyone present. What did he say? "We market entities cannot speak carelessly, with so many ministers here." Everyone burst into laughter. Frankly speaking, to be honest, I am ashamed! What is the government for? It should serve enterprises and drive economic development. If market entities dare not speak — like a mouse seeing a cat — that will not do! Of course, it is not like that everywhere, but there is a mouse-before-a-cat mentality, not daring to speak, and even when speaking, hemming and hawing.

Li Keqiang said that enterprises are the main body of the market, and the government must loosen the bonds on enterprises and resolutely make the first move in streamlining administration and delegating power.

Li Keqiang: When Chinese enterprises thrive, the market prospers and the economy grows strong. Enterprises are the main body of the market. The government must resolutely make the first move in streamlining administration and delegating power, loosen the bonds on enterprises, let market entities speak and tell the truth, and give full play to the role of market entities. Do not assume that people like us have so much wisdom and strength, let alone one or two departments or one or two individuals. If the wisdom and creativity of hundreds of millions of Chinese people are mobilized and brought into play, the competitiveness and value they create cannot be matched by any other country in the world.

Zhang Chaoyang, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sohu.com, specifically raised the issue of intellectual property protection in his remarks, saying that China's penalties in this regard are still insufficient. Premier Li Keqiang agreed.

Li Keqiang: We must intensify the crackdown on counterfeit and shoddy goods, infringement of intellectual property rights, and fraud and deception, so that the market can compete more fully and achieve fair competition. In fact, protecting intellectual property is adding fuel to the fire of creative wisdom — pouring oil on it.

When talking about the development situation of enterprises in the first half of the year, Zhang Chaoyang, representing Internet enterprises, and Dong Mingzhu, chairman of Zhuhai Gree Group Co., Ltd., both said that their enterprises are currently advancing against the trend and rising steadily.

Zhang Chaoyang: Voices from the Internet industry are still very good. Although the overall economy is slowing down, the Internet is growing very rapidly.

Dong Mingzhu: Our overall sales situation this year is still relatively optimistic. From the perspective of manufacturing, we are still rising steadily.

Li Keqiang said that amid complex and intricate conditions and relatively great downward pressure, China's economy also contains vitality within that pressure.

Li Keqiang: On the other hand, we must also see that enormous vitality is contained within the pressure. This vitality lies in the fact that China's market still has huge space and potential, and the key lies in creation. This creation must be quality-based. For more than 30 years, Chinese enterprises have relied on low-priced goods for export. But now the Chinese economy has reached a new stage and must win through quality, relying more on competitive advantages in quality. Enterprises must enhance their own competitiveness.