Wu Yi encourages innovation in SMEs

Addressing the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ministerial meeting convening from October 30 to 31, Vice Premier Wu Yi stressed SMEs' increasingly important role in economic development and urged cooperation among governments to boost innovation in SMEs.

Wu added, “Promoting developments of SMEs is a grand strategic plan that is destined to grow into something extraordinary.  Economic development of a nation is not merely associated with larger players evolving into multinationals, but also with flourishing of numerous SMEs.  Such businesses in both Asia and Europe have been a key engine of their social and economic development, creating many job opportunities, presenting dynamics in tech innovation and expanding their shares in economic and trade ties.”

 The meeting released the Beijing declaration to enhance exchanges among the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) members.  The major consensuses reached in the declaration are: develop SMEs, make the world harmonious; enhance economic and trade ties, promote economic prosperity in both Asia and Europe; optimize industrial structure, advocate market openness and fair competition, meet challenges from globalization; elevate creativeness, uphold sustainable development; create job opportunities, promote prevalent prosperity in the society; promote social services, improve development climate for SMEs. 

(by Sun Fanghua)

吴仪要求提高中小企业技术创新能力

　　本报讯　10月30日至31日，首届亚欧会议中小企业部长级会议在京举行。国务院副总理吴仪在开幕致辞中指出，中小企业在经济发展中的作用不断加强，要加强政府间合作，提高中小企业技术创新能力。

吴仪强调，促进中小企业发展是一个大战略，可以做成一篇大文章。一个国家经济的发展，不仅要有能够走向世界的大企业，而且也要有众多生机勃勃的中小企业。从亚欧各成员国来看，中小企业在经济发展中的作用不断加强，在扩大就业中的地位举足轻重，在技术创新中的活力引人瞩目，在经贸合作中的影响逐步扩大，已成为经济社会发展的重要推动力量。

会议发布了《加强亚欧中小企业合作北京宣言》。 宣言达成的主要共识包括：发展中小企业，携手构建和谐世界；加强经贸合作，共促亚欧经济繁荣；优化产业结构，促进市场开放和公平竞争，应对全球化的挑战；提高创新能力，实现可持续发展；增加就业机会，促进社会普遍富裕；健全社会服务，改善企业发展环境。（孙芳华）