BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday called for Chinese and US businessmen to have confidence in China's economy, and pledged to further the opening-up strategy.

"The world economy is currently facing increasingly downward pressure along with more factors of instability and uncertainty," Wen told a group of business leaders and former senior officials from the United States.

He said it's a common task for all countries to create sound circumstances for economic growth.

Wen urged China and the United States, sharing broad common interests and reciprocal economies, to boost cooperation with mutual trust, mutual benefits and to help each other.

He called on the two countries to calmly handle issues concerning economic and trade relations, and seek an effective way to balance trade through equal consultation.

China will adopt a more proactive strategy of opening-up, expand common interests with all sides including the United States, improve its systems and mechanisms to meet the requirements of an open economy, and create a fair market for all enterprises running on its soil, Wen said.

"The Chinese government welcomes the US side to increase investment in China, and encourages Chinese companies to tap markets in the United States," he said.

He asked the business circles of the two countries to consolidate confidence in China's economy, enhance contact and convey the concerns of the two sides to the governments, and the goodwill of settling problems to the two peoples.

The US guests, headed by Thomas Donohue, president of the US Chamber of Commerce, said the US and Chinese economies are interdependent.

They proposed the two sides expand mutual understanding and take effective measures to boost cooperation and send a positive signal to the international community.

The US delegation is here for a dialogue meeting between Chinese and US business leaders and former senior officials.