Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday chaired a State Council executive meeting that heard a report on inspections concerning efforts to expand capacity and improve quality in the service sector, and the planning and construction of six major networks.

The meeting also reviewed and approved a plan on intellectual property protection and utilization for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), studied work to optimize the social security system, and heard a report on recommendations for rectifying problems identified in audits of the implementation of the 2025 central budget and other fiscal revenues and expenditures.

The meeting called for fully tapping the potential of the service sector, refining support policies tailored to different sectors, and removing constraints and obstacles. It urged producer services to better support sci-tech innovation, value creation and the real economy, and consumer services to expand the supply of high-quality services.

It also called for systematic efforts to advance the planning and construction of water networks, new-type power grids, computing power networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipeline networks and logistics networks, with stronger funding and factor support, better coordination between construction and utilization, and improved management mechanisms and operational service capacity.

Regarding intellectual property, the meeting stressed addressing institutional shortcomings, improving the relevant legal and policy framework, increasing the supply of high-quality intellectual property, improving the efficiency of its commercialization and utilization, and strengthening talent development.

It also called for improving the coordination, adaptability and sustainability of the social security system, exploring new social insurance models for people in flexible employment, improving housing support for migrant workers and other groups, promoting the sharing of care resources for people unable to live independently, and using advanced technologies to make social security services more convenient.

The meeting urged authorities to rectify audit findings item by item, strengthen budget management, deepen fiscal and tax system reform, and improve the effectiveness of fiscal spending. It also called for using audit rectification to promote better implementation of the decisions and arrangements of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and related policy measures, and to ensure that this year's economic and social development targets are met.