SOEs want less frictions for better trade environment

Xiao Yaqing, head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, attends a press conference on reform and development of State-owned companies for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 9, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese State-owned enterprises are willing to see fewer trade frictions, and SOEs will follow market rules to better promote trade globalization and opening-up and co-operation, said Xiao Yaqing, head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, on Mar 9.

A better trade environment between China and the United States is expected, so that enterprises can operate better and develop better. This is the hope of both China's SOEs and overseas enterprises, Xiao said at a press conference during the two sessions.

He noted that SOEs, like other types of enterprises, are the subject of market competition, and develop according to market roles and marketization reform direction.

"China's SOEs maintain benign partnerships with enterprises under all types of ownership, as well as foreign enterprises. Cooperation helps China's SOEs in further deepening reform, improving development quality and enhancing management. This is a win-win situation that we look for," Xiao said.

He noted that in the next step, SOEs will open wider to the outside, to establish a stronger market player status. "The development process is market-oriented and internationalized," he said.

According to Xiao, SOEs, like enterprises under other types of ownership, participate in market competition equally, and are protected by laws.

There are no specific subsidies designed for SOEs, Xiao said.