Li Jin, chief research fellow at the China Enterprise Research Institute in Beijing, said that the timing of the symposium — just before the annual two sessions — showed the central government's emphasis on private enterprises and their increasingly critical role in achieving economic growth targets.

"The remarks confirmed supportive measures, showed a firm tone and offered clear encouragement to private enterprises," Li said.

At the symposium, Xi emphasized the role of private enterprises in advancing China's broader goals in technological innovation, promoting rural vitalization and improving people's well-being.

Tian Xuan, associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, described the latest policy direction as "forward-looking", emphasizing the increasingly important role of private enterprises in driving China's technological breakthroughs.

"This symposium brought together both traditional manufacturing giants and cutting-edge innovators like DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics — companies making waves in AI, robotics and other frontier technologies," Tian said.

"In the medium to long term, the high-quality development of the private sector will be instrumental in ensuring China's stable economic growth. As private firms continue to push the boundaries of innovation, confidence in Chinese assets will only strengthen," he added.