Tang Jiqiang, director of Chengdu High-Tech Zone's development planning bureau, addresses the Boao Forum for Asia SME Conference 2013 in South China's Hainan province. [China Daily]

The Boao Forum for Asia SME Conference 2013 was held on Jan 17 in Hainan province, South China, to focus on the future development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in China.

Tang Jiqiang, director of the development planning bureau in the Chengdu High-Tech Zone, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He said Chinese governments at all levels should give support for SMEs in China as a whole.

He noted that policies need to be adjusted to create a fair and healthy development environment for small and medium-sized enterprises. Current SME policies and financing solutions are much like a talent show. Only a small part can stand out and receive benefits, Tang added. Such a model fails to take into consideration the development gap for SMEs between east and west regions and structural and industrial differences among SMEs.

The Chinese government has carried out a series of policies to promote SME development in the past decade. This year's Boao Forum also puts SME development on the agenda. However, their development environment is still far from ideal, especially for traditional rural county level SMEs, Tang said.

There were 12.4 million SMEs in China at the end of 2011, contributing to 60 percent of the nation's GDP, 50 percent of the country's tax income, and 80 percent of urban employment.

The development problems of SMEs are a concern of the entire society. It is a matter of social equality and justice, he noted.

Tang suggested better financial systems at the State level and encouraged local governments to help SMEs creatively.

Chengdu High-Tech Zone, where Tang works, has solved some financing problems for local SMEs by providing them with support in line with their financial needs at different development phases.

Tang also suggested giving power to lower levels while strengthening government supervision, developing micro and grass roots financial institutions, and governing illegal financial organizations.