On November 20th, the Conference for the Healthy Development of Sichuan’s Private Economy was held, gathering 1,500 private entrepreneurs, over 500 leading cadres of the party and governmental departments and representatives from all walks of life at the main venue in Chengdu, as well as more than 30,000 people at the parallel sessions of the conference. Those present at the conference have discussed major plans regarding the development of the private economy. Mr. Peng Qinghua, Secretary of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC, attended the conference and delivered a speech. He stressed the necessity to adhere to the principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's Thought for a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should thoroughly implement the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on supporting the development of the private economy, and carry out across the board the policies and measures of central and provincial party committees and the provincial government. We should create an enabling business environment, focus on solving outstanding problems and practical difficulties, and support with unswerving efforts the healthy development of the private economy.

　　Mr. Yin Li, Vice Secretary of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC, Governor of People’s Government of Sichuan Province, presided over the conference. Mr. Ke Zunping, Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference, and Mr. Deng Xiaogang, Vice Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, attended the conference.

　　It was drizzling outside the Jinjiang Grand Hall, but inside the venue it was warm and cozy. At 9 o'clock in the morning, the conference kicked off with warm applause. Mr. Wang Ning, member of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Vice Governor of People’s Government of Sichuan Province, read out the decision on conferring awards on outstanding private entrepreneurs and private enterprises in the province, and the circular on commending leading units who have played a vital role in promoting the development of the private economy. Mr. Peng Qinghua, Mr. Yin Li, Mr. Ke Zunping, and Mr. Deng Xiaogang presented awards to those representatives. Private entrepreneurs represented by Liu Yonghao, Yu Xueliang, Ma Xin, He Mingshou, and Zhong Bo exchanged views with the heads of the following departments: Sichuan Provincial Administration of Market Supervision, Sichuan Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Political and Legal Committee of Sichuan Provincial Party Committee, and the Sichuan Provincial Commission of Discipline Inspection.

　　Later, Mr. Peng Qinghua delivered a speech. He pointed out that the remark of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Symposium for Private Enterprises affirmed in full the vital role of China’s private economy. Xi has made it clear that the Party Central Committee has to uphold the decision on supporting the development of the private economy, and six measures were proposed to boost the healthy development trend of the private economy. The provincial departments at all levels should implement to the letter General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on developing the private economy, especially the "two upholding", "three constants", "two healthy development", "breaking 'three thresholds and three barricades'" and "building a new political-business relationship." We should unify our thoughts and actions in line with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and promote with greater efforts and more practical measures the healthy development of the private economy in our province.

　　Mr. Peng Qinghua pointed out that private economy is the product of a new area and an important symbol of reform and opening up. In the past 40 years since reform and opening up, Sichuan's private economy has developed from scratch and grown to a measurable size. It has served as an important underpinning for the economic development of our province, and a major source of fiscal revenue, and a vital channel for employment. Mr. Peng Qinghua analyzed the challenges and opportunities facing the development of private economy in our province. He pointed out that the private economy bears typical characteristics of grassroots economy, boat economy, leading economy, and people-oriented economy. It is equipped with unique development advantages of light burden, flexible mechanism, and quick transformation. We must feel confident for the development of our country, for the future of Sichuan, and for the enterprises themselves. We should retain our strategic strength and adaptability, and hold unto the spirit of hard work, courage, and perseverance. We must face difficulties, challenges and competitions, and take advantage of the opportunity and trend to create a better future.

　　Mr. Peng Qinghua emphasized the necessity to assist the private economy in overcoming the obstacles in its transformation and upgradation progress, and guide private enterprises to step onto the path of transformation at the industrial level, the track of increasing competitive advantages, and the trail of improving the scale of development for a great-leap-forward. We should urge them to devote painstaking efforts and transform them into glorious achievements. We must take the task of building a first-class business environment as the “pioneering project” to promote the high-quality development of our economy, and make further moves to optimize the environment of legislation, governance, market operation, law enforcement, and humanities. It is necessary to build a new type of political-business relationship. Party and government cadres should take the initiative to protect the bottom line. Entrepreneurs should stick to the right path, conduct operation in accordance with the law, and work together to promote the healthy development of the private economy.

　　"The new era conduces to the empire of hard workers." Mr. Peng Qinghua encouraged the numerous private entrepreneurs to take determined actions and remained calm even in times of "chaotic environment," and to strive for a new chapter of development marked by "a silver lining in every threatening situation"; They should be brave to "start afresh" and withstand the tide of market economy; They must entertain the virtue of tenacity to stick to the real industry, work to grow their main businesses, and build a "time-honored brand" which would pass their fundamental values on to future generations; They should be bold enough to cleave through the waves of adversities, and fulfill their lives with career achievements and social contributions.

　　Group discussions were held in the conference. In the afternoon, a summary meeting was held. Mr. Wang Ning made a request regarding the implementation of the important spirit of the conference. Mr. Peng Yuxing, Vice Governor of People’s Government of Sichuan Province, presided over the meeting. Parallel forums on the industry development of private enterprises, financial support and innovative development were initiated.

　　The private entrepreneurs present at the conference said that the gesture of Sichuan provincial party committee and the People’s Government of Sichuan Province to held such a conference at the turn of the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up has fully reflected their political consciousness and their responsibility to carry out the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the paramount deployments of party central committee. Careful preparations have been made for this conference from making exquisite invitations to the arrangement of the middle area in the front, especially the introduction of unprecedented policies and measures which would help boost the private economy in real terms. All of these preparations are full loaded with the support of the provincial party committee and the provincial government and their confidence in the private economy. Their expectation and trust in us have warmed our heart and strengthened our determination to stand out in business operation. We will implement the spirit of this conference, remain dedicated to our country, abide by the rule of law, formulate innovations in starting businesses, and return back to the society, all is done to make greater contributions to Sichuan's economic and social development.

　　Leaders of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee, Sichuan Provincial Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, People’s Government of Sichuan Province, and Sichuan Provincial Political Consultative Conference; President of Sichuan Provincial Court; Procurator of Sichuan Provincial Procuratorate; main responsible comrades of the Municipal (Prefectural) Party Committees, and Party Group (Party Committee) of Provincial Departments (Units); main responsible persons of the central institutions stationed in Sichuan, enterprises and institutions in Sichuan, scientific research units of the province, institutions of higher learning, and the party committee of state-owned enterprises; as well as the responsible comrades for various democratic parties in Sichuan Provincial Committee attended the conference at the main venue. Branch venues were set up in each city (prefecture), and county (city, district).