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Premier Li says China open for business
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Li says economic recovery from pandemic taking hold
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Summit speech latest charm offensive on business
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But trade friction, geopolitics cloud outlook
(Adds quotes, details, writes through)
By Joe Cash and Shuyan Wang
BOAO, China, March 30 (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that he was committed to opening up and reforming the world's second-largest economy, seeking to win over foreign investors even as trade and geopolitical tensions with the West loom large.
His keynote speech, delivered at a business and political summit in the island province of Hainan, came in a week Beijing has mounted a charm offensive on overseas firms as it seeks to shore up an economy battered by years of pandemic restrictions.
But the prospects for a speedy recovery are clouded by strained relations with the U.S. and its allies over issues including its cosy ties with Russia, muscular stance towards Taiwan and fears about its use of sensitive technologies.
"No matter what changes take place in the world, we will always adhere to reform and opening up...We will introduce a series of new measures in expanding market access and optimising the business environment," Li, who took office this month, told the panel at the annual Boao Forum.
"A confident, open, and willing to share China must be a huge force for world prosperity and stability," he said.
Li, who spoke alongside the prime ministers of Malaysia, Singapore and Spain, earlier this week told a group of foreign executives, including Apple Inc's Tim Cook, at a summit in Beijing that China was "unswervingly" committed to opening up.
In his maiden speech after he took office, Li pledged to ease a sweeping regulatory crackdown and support private enterprises. In a sign that stance may already be bearing fruit, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group announced this week it was planning to break up its empire and explore several fundraisings or listings.
But three years of rigid border controls and a series of sweeping lockdowns during the pandemic have sapped business confidence in China, especially among foreign firms, according to sentiment surveys.
Those COVID curbs were abruptly dropped in December, and Li said on Thursday there were signs a recovery was starting to take hold.
"Judging from the situation in March, it's better than in January and February. In particular, major economic indicators such as consumption and investment continue to improve, while employment and prices are generally stable," Li said.