Favorable investment and entrepreneurship climate, improved governance key to maintaining Jilin's economic momentum.

Jilin province should improve its government services to create a sound environment for investment and promote innovation and entrepreneurship amid the economic downturn in the country's northeastern region, the province's top official said in Beijing at the ongoing annual meeting of the country's top legislature.

Government officials should be pragmatic in their approach and shoulder their respective responsibilities in the province's campaigns to improve the environment, accelerate investment projects and promote the implementation of development strategies, said Bayin Chaolu, Party chief of Jilin.

An accountability system should be established to strengthen the supervision of government officials, he said.

Jilin has reported improved growth since the launching last year of four key projects, including those designed to rejuvenate its pillar industries and boost its advantageous industries. The province has also sped up the reform of its State-owned enterprises, promoted the innovative development of its service industry and strengthened its poverty relief efforts to ensure sustainable development, Bayin said on Feb 3, the first working day the after the Spring Festival holiday.

In 2016, the province's GDP totaled more than 1.48 trillion yuan ($214.6 billion), up 6.9 percent year-on-year, higher than the national GDP growth rate of 6.7 percent and outpaced its peers - Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces - in the region, according to the provincial statistics bureau.

This year, the province plans to launch 700 projects with investment of more than 50 million yuan. Of these projects, 450 boast investment of more than 100 million yuan and 60 boast investment of more than 1 billion yuan.

In addition, Jilin has worked hard to improve its soft environment for investment over the past few years, Bayin said.

For example, Jilin pushed forward reform measures to streamline administration, delegate power to lower levels and improve government services, he said.

The number of items requiring administrative approval in the province has been reduced from more than 590 to 192, making Jilin the province with the fewest such items in the country, he added. As a result, the province has significantly improved its government's work efficiency and quality of services and these improvements have gained increasing recognition from both the general public and the business community.

Several meetings have also been held over the past year with the aim of improving the province's soft environment for investment, including the World Jilin Entrepreneurs Convention, which was held in the province from July 27-29.

"The improving soft environment for investment is Jilin's biggest hard resource and the most effective way of reducing costs," Bayin said.

The province's measures have greatly boosted the confidence of investors.

In 2016, private investment in Jilin increased by 12 percent year-on-year and accounted for 74 percent of the fixed investment in the province, the Party chief said. More businesses and entrepreneurs have focused their attention on Jilin, leading to a rapid increase in the number of commercial activities in the province last year, he said, adding that more than 400 provincial business delegations visited Jilin in the past year.

The province has also drawn up a range of measures aimed at attracting professionals. Graduates of Jilin's universities are encouraged to start their own businesses and hone their entrepreneurship skills.

Skilled people who are Jilin natives but working outside the province are urged to return home and engage in entrepreneurship.

Through a series of major projects, including Changchun New Area and Hunchun International Cooperation Demonstration Zone, the province has attracted a large number of professionals. Changchun New Area, China's 17th national new area, has hired more than 100 high-end skilled people, both from within China and overseas, since it was established in February last year.