TIANJIN — Premier Li Keqiang stressed the government’s determination in reform on Sept 9 while acknowledging difficulties.

“The course of reform will not run smooth, because it will stir the interests, just like short-term fluctuations in the Chinese economy. But we are determined.” Li said at a meeting with entrepreneurs and business leaders before the 2014 New Leaders Meeting of World Economic Forum, also known as Summer Davos forum.

Li noted China’s reform in the past years has been carried out in a step-by-step, unremitting and nonstop manner, and that the government ramped up efforts to deepen reform since last year.

Responding to doubts over if promised reform has taken effect, the Premier reserved from saying a categorical “yes”, but cited the reform on corporate registration that saw the number of newly registered companies surge more than 60 percent year on year in the past six months.

He also highlighted the reform to streamline government administration.