China's new Premier, Li Qiang, has promised to treat private-sector companies equally and protect the property rights of entrepreneurs in a bid to restore confidence in the country's faltering economy.
He faces several challenges in this role, including weak confidence among consumers and private businesses, declining population and job losses.
While Li insisted that China is open for business, there have been recent crackdowns on private enterprise by the Chinese Government affecting some companies, such as the tech and tutoring industries.
Li Qiang, China's new Premier, used his first public address to emphasise that the economy is stabilising and picking up again, despite the challenges it faces.
Li's speech came at the end of the National People's Congress, where he also covered improving the business climate and welcoming investment.
The Premier is tasked with reviving China's economy after three years of COVID curbs.
Although meeting China's economic growth target of 5% in 2023 would be a no easy task, Li pledged to redouble the government's efforts.
Li's focus on reinvigorating confidence in the economy and the role of entrepreneurs marks a shift after a decade of increasingly centralised control by the Communist Party.
While the New York Times characterises the state's role as steadily growing, it highlights pro-party commentators castigating big businesses.
In contrast, Al Jazeera emphasises the crackdown on private enterprise under Xi Jinping's leadership, especially targeting tech companies and tutoring industries.
Weak confidence, spending and investment by consumers and private businesses have hurt the economy, which has slowed sharply over the past few years.