On the morning of September 20, 2016, Premier Li Keqiang held discussions at the hotel where he stayed in New York with heavyweights from US economic, financial, think-tank and media circles, during which they made exchanges and interactions on China-US relations, bilateral cooperation on economy and trade and other issues of common concern. Founder of Bloomberg L.P. Michael Bloomberg chaired the discussions.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former US Treasury Secretary Robert Edward Rubin, former US Ambassador to China J. Stapletone Roy, former Senior Director for Asian Affairs of the White House National Security Council Jeff Bader, President and CEO of IBM Ginni Rometty, Chairman and CEO of the Dow Chemical Company Andrew Nicholas Liveris, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Inc. Jeffrey Bewkes, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group Stephen Schwarzman, President and CEO of MetLife Steve Kandarian, Co-founder of Groupon Brad Keywell, President of Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass, President of Columbia University Lee C. Bollinger, professor at Yale University Stephen Roach, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Affairs Gideon Rose and Host of Chinese Television Station of the Public Broadcasting Service Charlie Rose were present.

Li Keqiang said that China is the largest developing country while the US is the largest developed country. Both countries have maintained and developed stable political relations and close economic and trade relations, which not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also is conducive to peace, development and prosperity of the world. Due to different cultural background and national conditions, it is inevitable for the two countries to encounter some divergences, yet we should focus on the mainstream and general direction of bilateral relations. Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship decades ago, although there have been ups and downs, the two countries always get through the difficulties and assume a brighter prospect, just like the sky clearing up after rains. China welcomes present personages from all circles to continuously push forward China-US relations with practical actions.

Li Keqiang pointed out that China's door of opening up will be wider and this already opened door will not be closed. We will continue to make great effort to promote the reform in streamlining administrative procedures, delegating powers to lower levels and other aspects, focus on intellectual property protection and create a more relaxed and convenient business environment for foreign enterprises to make investment in China. The potential in investment cooperation between the two countries is tremendous. It is believed that US enterprises will see an ever-expanding market in China. The two countries are now conducting negotiations on bilateral investment treaty on the basis of the pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list, aiming at sending the signal of stable and positive mutual investment to business sectors of the two countries. China hopes that the US side will meet China halfway and ease export control on high-tech products, so as to reach a high-level, mutually beneficial and win-win bilateral investment treaty at an early date.

Li Keqiang noted that big data, cloud computing and other emerging industries are developing rapidly in China at present, which in general conduces to the development and transformation of China, but brings certain information security challenges at the same time. The big data and cloud computing industries in China should be both open and secure. We will gradually explore in such process and carry out communication and dialogue with foreign enterprises, so as to find an efficient cooperation channel that is both pro-opening-up and pro-security.

Li Keqiang stressed that globalization brings benefit-sharing and enables all countries to give full play to their comparative advantages, thus making a better livelihood for the people. Now the trend of deglobalization is only a temporary setback in the process of globalization. We need to handle drawbacks in globalization, instead of "stop eating for the fear of choking". As a staunch defender of free trade, China firmly supports the promotion of trade liberalization within the WTO framework. We believe that global trade liberalization and investment facilitation are the trend of the history.

Attending representatives thanked Premier Li Keqiang for his insights, and said that US-China relations are the most important bilateral relations in the current world. The two sides share extensive common interests and strong desires to develop bilateral relations. China's achievements in development are unprecedented and incomparable. Both countries should strengthen cooperation in economy and trade and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in addition to boosting political relations, so as to make US-China relations closer and stronger. Present representatives pay great attention to and appreciate the reform measures adopted by the Chinese government, and are willing to actively participate in China's process of reform and opening-up and further expand cooperation with China in order to contribute to the in-depth development of US-China relations.