Dalian, a port city in Liaoning province, held a conference on Monday focused on improving its business environment, with local officials resolving to treat the task as the "most crucial, immediate, and pressing strategic mission".

At the meeting, Xiong Maoping, deputy secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Party chief of Dalian, said the city would prioritize creating a more stable, fair, and predictable market environment. He said this effort is intended to strengthen investor confidence and support sustainable growth.

According to Xiong, Dalian has seen new achievements in the rule of law, new efforts in aiding enterprises, new strides in government service efficiency, new steps in opening-up, and a new atmosphere in discipline enforcement, leading to continuous improvement.

Xiong instructed departments across the city to reduce informal practices that interfere with market operations, including reliance on personal connections to resolve administrative matters. He added that public resource allocation should become more transparent and subject to stricter oversight.

The city will intensify investigations into cases that harm the business environment, Xiong said, with a focus on misconduct involving enterprise interests and public services. Officials involved in such cases will face disciplinary action, he added.

Dalian aims to set an example within Liaoning province by improving regulatory clarity and enforcement consistency, contributing to broader efforts to enhance the province's overall business climate.