国内英语新闻:Premier Li stresses fairness for Chinese, foreign companies

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to a fair environment for companies from home and abroad as he met with a delegation from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) headed by its chairman, Harold McGraw III.

"We treat Chinese and foreign companies equally and provide a fair business environment for them," Li said, adding that foreign companies will have immense room for development in the country as China is deepening reform and expanding opening up.

Li said the Chinese government stands ready to work with the ICC to oppose trade and investment protectionism and maintain a fair and rational international economic order.

Hailing the ICC's role in promoting international trade and world economic recovery, he said China has introduced lots of financial and trade rules and practices from the organization since China's accession in 1994, a policy which has helped to improve the business environment in China and made Chinese enterprises more internationalized.

"We hope the ICC and its members, including Standard & Poor's, will listen to the voice of the Chinese business circle and play a positive role in boosting cooperation between Chinese and overseas companies," said the premier.

McGraw lauded Li's fruitful visit to Africa earlier this month as well as China's contribution to global economic growth and job creation.

He also pledged that the ICC will increase communication and cooperation with China to expand global trade and investment, maintain the multilateral system of trade, and boost the world economy in a sustainable way.

The ICC, founded in 1919 in Paris, is a business organization with about 6.5 million companies as its members all over the world.