Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets entrepreneurs attending the Summer Davos Forum in the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province on Sept 10, 2013. The annual Summer Davos meeting is scheduled to open on Sept 11. [Photo by Zou Hong / chinadaily.com.cn]

DALIAN -- China is capable of tackling the difficulties and challenges ahead to realize sustainable, healthy development in the long term, Premier Li Keqiang stressed on Tuesday.

Li made the remarks in response to questions raised by visiting business representatives who are in China to attend the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2013, also known as Summer Davos.

Instead of adopting short-term stimulus measures to lift the economy, China has stayed calm and taken a more holistic approach, especially stressing the importance of reforms, economic restructuring and market vigor, to boost slowing growth.

The efforts have gradually paid off, Li said, citing August's improving economic indicators, such as the Purchase Managers' Index, industrial profits and power consumption, as evidence of a firming economy.

"I would not deny that we'll meet various risks and challenges in the future, but we have the courage to stay calm and the wisdom to address the problems," Li said.

This year's forum, themed "Meeting the Innovation Imperative," will feature interactive discussions on issues ranging from sustainable growth and energy security to trade and investments.

Li will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum on Wednesday.