Innovation to receive support, reform role called ‘vital’

The guideline provides allaround support and protection for entrepreneurs to focus on quality.” Zhang Ruimin CEO, Haier Group

China’s first-ever guideline that advocates entrepreneurial spirit and creates a favorable environment for entrepreneurs will play a vital role in driving the ongoing supply-side structural reform to further boost innovation, experts said.

The entrepreneurial spirit is an important driving force to further upgrade and transform the economy, said Liu Quanhong, a researcher from Chinese Academy of Macro¬economic Research.

“Boosting the entrepreneurial spirit holds a key to the country’s supply-side structural reform, which is supposed to stimulate market vitality at a deeper level and achieve healthy and sustainable development,” Liu said.

The guideline, the first of its kind, was released on Monday by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. It advocates the entrepreneurial spirit, which includes hard work, pursuing excellence, craftsmanship, innovation and social responsibility.

The guideline stresses that the government will protect the legal rights and interests of entrepreneurs, ensure fair competition and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights to encourage innovation.

According to the guideline, a negative list management program will be rolled out nationwide to ensure fair access to industries and businesses that are not off-limits for market entities.

Creating a favorable social environment will prove important for innovation and entrepreneurship, said Zhang Yuli, dean of business school of Nankai University.

“Moreover, the government’s efforts on strengthening protection of IPR (intellectual property rights) will benefit the enterprises, which have mastered mature technologies and possessed competitive products in the market, as well as boost different types of innovation such as new business models and cultural creativity,” Zhang said.

Zhang said the fair market access will let more private capital tap into more areas, such as military industry, energy, transportation and telecom, and promote the State-owned enterprises’ mixed ownership reforms.

It means private enterprises will be encouraged to play a bigger role in boosting innovation, Zhang said.

“The guideline provides allaround support and protection for entrepreneurs to focus on quality and continuous innovation without extra worries,” said Zhang Ruimin, chairman and chief executive of household appliance giant Haier Group.