Owners play down suggestions it could boost domestic business and aid employment to help offset the slowdown in growth caused by the US-China trade war.

Olive branch from Beijing follows increasing concern in Europe that China is a ‘strategic rival’ that may undermine its interests.

Premier ends National People’s Congress by promising to introduce measures to alleviate burdens felt by the private sector.

Premier promises 11 million new jobs as China tries to ensure social stability, with tax cuts and reduced red tape to help private companies.

Reporters’ hopes they would get to pose a question on one of the burning topics of the day were quickly dashed.

Chinese Premier stressed that the law will regulate officials’ behaviour, making sure foreign investors’ rights will be protected.

‘Unanswered questions’ over judge-turned-whistleblower who admitted losing documents for major trial results in lowest approval rating in three years.

Li Keqiang refutes spying suggestion, saying it is ‘not how China behaves’ and that Beijing would never require Chinese companies to do so.

Some in the city worried it would miss out on benefits of tweaks to how overseas companies are treated. But premier offers highest-level affirmation yet that it will not.

The ballot of the National People’s Congress is often seen as barometer of an incumbent premier’s popularity, with hundreds having opposed some of Li’s past reports – but he is seen as face of Xi Jinping’s policies.

Uncertainty persists even as the National People’s Congress passes a law protecting foreign investment in China, and several proposals to fend off an economic downturn.

Attempt by Beijing to address key issues raised by US President Donald Trump as part of the US-China trade war including forced technology transfer and market access.

Outspoken Gree Electric chairwoman and National People’s Congress delegate Dong Mingzhu rules out price cuts to expand market share overseas amid US-China trade war.

Country is pumping more resources into developing equipment ranging from better guns to state-of-the-art warplanes, according to armaments specialists.

The southern tropical province is to be transformed into a digital free trade zone, but there is still much to be done as officials struggle to meet the grand plan’s ambitious targets.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the semi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, says mainland’s growing strength means it will inevitably achieve its goal.

But fleeing speculators could leave room for other buyers to collect at affordable prices, insiders say.

American Chamber of Commerce in China welcomes legislation ‘in principle’ but says it doesn’t go into enough detail and needs more consultation.

China must be ‘prepared to fight tough battles’ this year, the nation’s largest political advisory body is told on the final day of ‘two sessions’.

Government crack down on debt and risky lending also eliminated legitimate funding channels for smaller private sector businesses.

China sees connected EVs as an opportunity to reduce foreign oil imports and gain parity in car production with established powerhouses such as Germany, the US and Japan.

Camps in far western region where more than 1 million Muslims are said to be held for political re-education have drawn international condemnation.

Prosecutor says 27,000 people were charged with running scams in 2018, while cases involving illegal crowdfunding, pyramid schemes and bad peer-to-peer loans were up 11 per cent.

IPR is a key area of tension in trade relations between the US and China.

Bourses on both sides have become increasingly interconnected as Hong Kong seeks to play global role.

President Tsai Ing-wen is ‘delusional’ and is leading the island down a dead end, says Beijing adviser on cross-strait issues.

Updated foreign investment law due to come into effect from January 2020 and stipulates equal treatment for overseas firms.

National Bureau of Statistics chief Ning Jizhe cites stable industrial production and steady employment over the first two months of the year.

Religion overseer Xu Xiaohong bangs drum for Xi Jinping’s campaign to purge faith in China of ‘subversive’ foreign characteristics.