The economic performance of China's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was on a generally steady, sound and upward trajectory in 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said Tuesday.
In 2024, the economic performance of SMEs maintained overall stability with steady progress, with the added value of small and medium-sized industrial enterprises above the designated size increasing by 6.9 percent year on year, 2.8 percentage points higher than that of large enterprises, said Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Zhang Yunming at a press conference in Beijing.
Industrial enterprises above designated size are those with annual revenue from principal business reaching or over 20 million yuan.
In terms of fostering innovation-driven enterprises, China has promoted the development of SMEs that apply special, sophisticated technologies to produce unique and novel products, and fostered a total of 14,600 "little giant" enterprises, with the number of national science and technology enterprises exceeding 600,000, Zhang said.
In the next step, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will intensify efforts to promote the high-quality development of SMEs, he added.
"In 2025, [China will] further support over 30 pilot cities and recognize additional 100 distinctive industrial clusters of SMEs. Mechanisms will be rolled out to promote the development of SMEs that use specialized and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. [We will] conduct studies on setting up the second phase of national development fund for SMEs, actively foster public service platforms (bases) for SMEs to provide them with more high-quality and efficient services, thereby promoting the development of these SMEs in this regard," he said.
Economic performance of China's SMEs steadily picks up in 2024
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
