State Council meeting stresses healthy development of platform economy

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday presided over a State Council executive meeting to study and promote the healthy development of the platform economy.

The meeting noted that the development of the platform economy is of significance in expanding domestic demands, keeping employment stable, ensuring people's livelihood as well as developing new quality productive forces.

It called for efforts in strengthening the system of industrial internet platforms, supporting consumer internet platform companies to tap market potential and promoting the law-based and orderly cross-border flow of data.

Standardized operation and orderly competition of platform enterprises should be advanced, the meeting said, adding that their quality should also be improved to give full play to the platform economy's role in boosting employment.

The meeting discussed and approved a draft law on the safety of hazardous chemical substances and decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for deliberation.

It was emphasized at the meeting that efforts should focus on establishing a prevention mechanism to manage safety risks at different levels and root out hidden hazards. It was essential to enhance safety management throughout the entire process of production, storage, utilization, operation, and transportation to resolutely curb the occurrence of major accidents, according to the meeting.

The meeting also underscored the importance of improving the professional skills of industry personnel, promoting the large-scale equipment upgrades, and expediting the phase-out, upgrades and renovation of outdated chemical facilities.

Additionally, it decided to revise certain provisions in 21 regulations, including one regulation regarding the supervision of medical equipment, and abolish four regulations.

State Council meeting stresses healthy development of platform economy

China's autumn grain purchases have exceeded 300 million tons, representing 60 percent of the 2024 autumn harvest and contributing to stable market prices, official data revealed on Friday.

According to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, autumn grains, mainly consisting of rice, corn, and soybeans, account for more than 70 percent of the annual grain output.

China's grain purchases are primarily focused on summer and autumn harvests, ensuring a stable supply of staple crops to meet domestic demand. Autumn grain purchases typically span an extended period, beginning in late September of the previous year and concluding by the end of April the following year.

Currently, corn purchases have surpassed 190 million tons, while soybean purchases exceed 10 million tons, both reaching relatively high levels.

The peak purchasing period for middle- and late-season rice ended in February, with total purchases reaching 105 million tons. Prices remained stable, and the rice stood out for its high quality, fetching favorable prices.

"To protect the interests of grain farmers, relevant departments have launched campaigns to purchase middle- and late-season rice in major grain-producing provinces such as Heilongjiang at minimum purchase price to meet farmers' grain sales needs. A total of 7.11 million tons of rice have been purchased at the minimum purchase price, accounting for seven percent of the total rice purchases," said Luo Shouquan, the director of the food reserve department at the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

China's autumn grain purchases surpass 300 million tons, stabilizing market prices