East China's Fujian province continues to optimize its business environment for private enterprises. [Photo/VCG]

East China's Fujian province will continue to optimize its business environment for private enterprises to promote the healthy development of the province's private sector, said local authorities at a private enterprise symposium held on Feb 18.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the province's GDP was 4.39 trillion yuan ($677 billion) last year, with a year-on-year growth of 3.3 percent.

This year marks the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for economic and social development, as well as the start of the country's new journey towards fully building a modern socialist country. Fujian expects GDP growth of 7.5 percent this year to ensure a good start for its development during this five-year period.

The province's top official expressed his hope that private enterprises in Fujian can capitalize on the province's development opportunities and launch more high-quality projects in Fujian.

He noted that Fujian boasts a solid foundation for industrial development. The province also has great potential for industrial transformation and upgrading, urbanization, as well as the development of new infrastructure.

Fujian will continue to advance science, technology, and innovation to empower various industries, as well as to drive the province's social and economic development this year, the top official added.

He also urged that the government at all levels should respect expertise, talent, and creation, as well as continue improving their business environment in order to create a fair development platform for private enterprises.

This year, many places in Fujian have released new measures to attract more investment.

Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian, rolled out preferential policies to encourage enterprises to increase investment and expand production. The city is expected to attract more than 560 new industrial projects this year to speed up its high-quality development.

Quanzhou came up with tailored policies for private enterprises, including improving its business environment, promoting the high-quality development of the city's manufacturing industry, as well as accelerating scientific and technological innovation.

Quanzhou unveiled a package of new incentives to encourage foreign enterprises to expand their investment. Local enterprises were also urged to increase their exports, diversify their export markets, make better use of foreign capital, as well as extend their industrial chain to help private enterprises expand the city's opening-up.