China will advance reform and opening-up, pursue innovative development, and further stabilize the job market and consolidate the foundation for economic growth.

The remarks came during Premier Li Keqiang’s inspection trip to East China’s Shanghai on Sept 21 and 22.

At Himalaya Technology, the first stop on his inspection, the Premier learned that Ximalaya FM relies on the internet to attract tens of millions of audio creators to participate in online innovation and entrepreneurship, and serves over 600 million users with its audio products.

While talking with some creators, he said developing diversified audio products through modern technologies generates an enormous consumption market, which can help create numerous jobs and enrich people’s lives.

The Premier expressed the hope that the platform could continue efforts to benefit more content creators and listeners.

While visiting the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, Premier Li heard reports on the development and opening-up of Pudong New Area, new breakthroughs in the FTZ’s reform and growth, as well as the city’s progress in administrative reform and government services.

Shanghai should continue spearheading reform and opening-up pilot programs to become a role model at a higher level, he said.

He also visited the China research center of SAP, a foreign-invested company in the FTZ, and talked with both Chinese and foreign engineers to learn about its cooperation with China’s manufacturing enterprises.

The Premier stressed employing industrial internet to develop services facing the manufacturing sector as well as deepening opening-up and collaboration.

It will help upgrade the Made in China initiatives, create stable and more powerful industrial and supply chains, and nurture new drivers of development, he added.

With employment always on his mind, the Premier arrived at 51job, a provider of human resources services, where he asked in detail about the employment situation, salary changes, and the hiring of college graduates.

As stable employment is a priority for supporting the economic fundamentals, the Premier urged the company’s staff to deliver better recruitment services to bring opportunities to more job seekers.

At the Bank of Communications, Premier Li chaired a symposium on financial support to the real economy and heard opinions from representatives from local governments, financial institutions, and small and micro enterprises.

Premier Li said policies will continue to provide financial support to the real economy with more progress in service innovation, inclusive finance, and prevention of financial risks.

He called for large, small and medium financial institutions to pursue differentiated development in fair competition to better serve the real economy.

Premier Li also paid a visit to a key national marine engineering laboratory at Shanghai Jiaotong University to learn about their basic research and technical innovation.

While talking with academicians and professors, he said the institutional reform of science and technology should enhance innovation, unleash the creativity of researchers, and accelerate commercial application of research results.

He also encouraged university students to carry on the spirit of innovation to contribute to the nation and society.

In the evening, Premier Li went to the Nanjing Road walkway to inspect the recovery of businesses and consumption. Business owners told him that the market is recovering, and the Premier said that more time is needed to achieve normal growth, despite the rising momentum of consumption.

Work and production resumption and market resumption are interconnected, thus methods should be explored to promote consumption amid regular epidemic prevention and control to boost the economy, Premier Li added.

Premier Li fully affirmed Shanghai's achievements in epidemic prevention and control, and economic and social development. He hoped that the city could continue to deepen reform and opening-up and promote high-quality development.

State Councilor Xiao Jie, and He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also went on the inspection.