国内英语新闻:Chinese premier stresses higher level of opening-up

BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed higher level of opening-up to drive forward reform, stimulate market vitality and optimize the development environment.

Li made the remarks during an inspection tour to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) Monday.

In a video conversation with local customs officers at the GAC monitoring and command center, Li told them to improve their service through technology and reduce clearance times and costs.

Li also asked them to be firm in fighting smuggling and preventing waste and inferior products from entering the country.

During his visit to the MOC, Li said it is necessary to actively improve the environment for foreign investment and to spread nationwide the good experience of pilot free trade zones in opening-up, making China continue to be a hot spot of investment and mutual benefit.

"Further opening-up is inevitable in the new historical era and a higher level of opening-up will help drive forward reform, increase the market vitality and promote high-quality development," said Li during talks with senior officials of both the MOC and GAC.

The premier also stressed the importance of understanding changes to the international environment, and urged for drafting an overall plan regarding further opening-up, seizing opportunities and rising to the challenges to upgrade the development.