MNI POLICY: China Urges Businesses to Open to Lessen Econ Hit

     BEIJING (MNI) - China on Tuesday urged businesses to resume operations to

minimize the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy, despite

restrictions placed on workers and logistics due to the ongoing coronavirus

outbreak. 

     Here are the major takeaways from a briefing by Cong Liang, the secretary

general of the National Development and Reform Commission, Ou Xiaoli, director

of the social development department at the NDRC, and Zhang Ying, director of

the employment promotion department at the Ministry of Human Resources and

Social Security.

     - China won't allow local authorities to restrict the resumption of

production through setting approval conditions or detaining those permitting

operations to resume early, said Ou.

     - One-fourth mask producers have not resumed production, and authorities

should help with labour, raw materials and funding shortages while importers

should increase mask procurement abroad, said Ou.

     - China will tap into existing job opportunities, and make every effort to

ensure the employment of medical equipment suppliers and other key companies in

virus prevention, said Zhang. 

     - China will help private and small companies to stabilize employment

through tax deductions, financial supports, rent subsidies and relieve on

unemployment contributions, said Zhang.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

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