Northeast provinces to improve commerce

Officials from China's northeast provinces have vowed to heighten their efforts to improve the business environment and further boost the private sector.

Speaking in a panel discussion during the ongoing 13th National People's Congress, Zhang Qingwei, Party secretary of Heilongjiang province, said the province will strive for breakthroughs in its business environment and improvements in the work style of officials this year.

Zhang said during the discussion, which was open to the media, that the province is faced with problems such as a predominantly heavy industry structure, sluggish private sector and lack of talent for innovation.