The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is an important channel for deliberative democracy. This symposium is imbued with a strong sense of consultation, as can be seen from the list of attendees. There are not only the "steward" of state-owned enterprises, the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, but also the "mother's family" of private enterprises, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which is responsible for supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and the National Bureau of Statistics, which has access to core data; Looking at the attending committee members, there are both renowned economists and experienced former government officials, as well as state-owned enterprise CEOs and private enterprise pioneers.
"In the past, enterprise symposiums were usually held separately for state-owned and private enterprises. Today, the Economic Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has conducted a new exploration and invited you to hold them together. The main purpose is to gather ideas, brainstorm and work together, and to negotiate and discuss how to promote the common development of state-owned and private enterprises and achieve a win-win situation." Li Yining, the conference host, member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC, and renowned economist, opened his mind. Integrated development is a new trend
Private fixed assets investment accounts for more than 60% of the total social investment, tax revenue accounts for 66.9% of the total tax revenue, and private industry accounts for 61.3% of the annual average number of employees of industrial enterprises above designated size... Xu Xianchun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics, reported a report of private enterprises in 2012.
From 2003 to 2011, the annual average growth rate of operating revenue and net profit of state-owned enterprises in China was 17.6%, 25%, and the annual average growth rate of tax payments was 19.4%. Huang Shuhe, Deputy Director of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, presented brilliant achievements in the reform of state-owned enterprises.
The general consensus among attendees is that in recent years, both state-owned enterprises and private enterprises have made significant progress. The relationship between the two sides is not a trade-off or opposition, but rather a symbiotic and coordinated development.
This is just like the atmosphere at the meeting, warm but not contradictory, sharp but not extreme, with all parties openly expressing their views, honing each other, and discussing development plans together.
Li Yizhong, Deputy Director of the Economic Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), previously served as the Secretary of the Party Committee of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) and was in charge of the development of small and medium-sized enterprises at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). His words were mostly fair: "Don't emphasize too much on conflicts of interest under market economy conditions, because competition is a law and a norm, and we need to cooperate and coordinate with each other." Regarding how to coordinate the development of state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, Li Yizhong stated that firstly, we should cooperate extensively in the improvement, coordination, and smoothness of the industrial chain; The second is to deepen the reform of the shareholding system and promote deep integration in the diversification of investment entities. "Strictly speaking, a mixed economy and a joint-stock economy are the best forms of public ownership," said Li Yizhong.
Liu Shenli, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) who has been working in state-owned enterprises for 20 years, is the CEO of China Agricultural Development Group Corporation. However, he also serves as the President of the China Association of Leading Agricultural Industrialization Enterprises, and has had contact with many private enterprises. He gave an example to illustrate that the integration and development of state-owned and private enterprises has become a trend and is increasingly demonstrating its superiority. "We have a listed company in the seed industry, which used to be dominated by a single stock market, with a rigid system and serious inertia. Later, we opened our doors and absorbed private enterprises to join, bringing in flexible sales, talent, distribution mechanisms, and our advantages in raising capital, forming a community of advantages. As a result, both sides achieved development, and the return on capital and enterprise size were greatly improved."
During the hosting, Li Yining mentioned an article from foreign media about what the United States should fear from China. The article started with a caf é near the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, where high-end talents talk about creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship every day. 30 years ago, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were the same group of people sitting in American cafes. "Without mechanisms, these people cannot come out," Li Yining said, so state-owned enterprises need to reform and absorb the advantages of private enterprises; Private enterprises should also pay attention to the development of new technologies in the future, so that cooperation between the two can be better. Eliminating ownership discrimination is an urgent task
Since the beginning of this year, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce has interviewed more than 600 private entrepreneurs, distributed more than 3000 survey questionnaires, and formed a research report that comprehensively reflects the thoughts, thoughts, and expectations of non-public enterprises. "The biggest expectation of private entrepreneurs now is 15 words: trust, hope for reform, fairness, security, and development," Zhuang Congsheng, Vice Chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, told attendees.
"Nowadays, many places label enterprises, which makes it difficult for the private economy to compete with other enterprises on the same starting line." Zhuang Congsheng believes that eliminating ownership discrimination and prejudice is an urgent task. "As long as enterprises are built by Chinese citizens, they are national enterprises, social enterprises, and national enterprises."
Currently, there are numerous policies supported by the government to support private enterprises, but the complaints of private enterprises are still numerous. Participants in the discussion believed that the key lies in unequal competitive status, and the "glass doors" and "spring doors" formed due to different identities often make them visible and intangible to private enterprises. For example, although some fields have been opened up, there is no clear way to enter, management and operation mode after entry; For example, some areas with thin profits and urgent need for funds have been opened up, but areas and links with high profits have been controlled; There are still some areas that are clearly open and practically banned, and due to inadequate market reforms, private enterprises are unable to enter at all.
The attending committee members expressed their expectations for reform in discussing enterprises based on their background. Chang Zhenming, Chairman of CITIC Group, proposed that the current approach to solving problems is based on distinguishing ownership. For example, allowing private enterprises to enter certain industries and state-owned enterprises to withdraw from certain industries is actually the best way to remove the label of ownership. Enterprises are enterprises, achieving the unity of identity between state-owned and private enterprises and breaking the root of inequality. Li Jiange, Chairman of China International Finance Corporation, suggested: "Heroes should not ask for their origins, and companies should not talk about their composition. In the future, official documents can only be described in legal language without political concepts, in order to truly open up a new situation."
Duan Yongji, the pioneer of wealth creation in Zhongguancun and the chairman of Sitong Group, directly shouted to Li Yining, "Teacher Li should play a big role and make some theoretical innovations. We particularly hope that you can write an introduction to the socialist market economy system, explaining clearly what responsibilities state-owned enterprises should bear and what position they should occupy under the socialist market economy system. What position should the non-public economy hold and what responsibilities should it bear? After so many years, we still haven't figured it out."
Searching for Effective Solutions in Reform
Different viewpoints and expressions were expressed, and the attendees gained consensus through heated discussions. Continuing to deepen reforms is undoubtedly the greatest consensus.
Li Yizhong pointed out in his speech that reform is first and foremost a systematic project, and neither state-owned nor private enterprise reform can fight alone or advance alone. It is connected to financial and tax, business system reform, and even administrative and political system reform, involving many deep-seated structural contradictions. The difficulty is the government's transformation of functions and adjustment of interest patterns.
"Both state-owned and private enterprises must do their own things well. The current hot topic of state-owned enterprises is the issue of state-owned capital inflow and outflow. We must firmly adhere to our main business and correct investment direction. The focus of private enterprises is to establish a modern enterprise system, strengthen the level of productivity factors, and improve operational level." Li Yizhong said.
Li Jiange, who has participated in the drafting of important documents multiple times, believes that the direction of market-oriented reform and the basic socialist economic system are the two main lines that we must adhere to. To establish a sound market economic system, we must adhere to three principles: first, strictly protect private property in accordance with the law; The second is the spirit of contractual freedom; The third is the principle of self responsibility. "If these three principles are not effectively followed, the market economy will definitely not do well."
A recent survey by the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce has become supporting evidence for Li Jiange. The survey shows that 40% of private enterprises currently believe that the biggest concern is that their property cannot be effectively protected; 63% of people believe that the main reason for immigration is fear of policy changes. The prescription given by Commissioner Zhuang Congsheng is to effectively create a good legal environment for the development of the private economy. "Changing our mindset is more important than market access. To change our mindset, we must first create a fair and relaxed social entrepreneurship environment, and also strengthen the legal protection of personal legal property."
Li Zhantong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of Tianjin Datong Investment Group, believes that in the current reform of state-owned enterprises, the key is to clarify their positioning. What can be done, what cannot be done, and what responsibilities must be clearly defined, and to establish an equal and open market economy system. "The development of state-owned enterprises without boundaries is the greatest limitation on private enterprises."
"We expect a legal, democratic, and fair institutional environment where every enterprise, whether state-owned or private, can enter the market equally, obtain production factors equally, participate in equal competition, and accept market elimination mechanisms." Li Zhantong said with great anticipation, "When we talk about an enterprise, we no longer focus on its identity as a state-owned or private enterprise, but on its own creativity and contribution to society, and our goals are within reach."