Private investment will be welcomed into China’s port and inland shipping facilities, said Premier Li Keqiang.

Beijing is to ease private capital’s access to sectors including energy and telecoms, Li told a State Council meeting.

Greater private involvement will stimulate markets, safeguard investment levels, and stabilise growth, he said.

Beijing has already invited private companies to participate in 80 major projects that had been monopolised by state-owned enterprises.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) will be promoted and sectors such as utilities, airports, and oil and gas exploration will be opened to more private investment, said Li.

China’s third-quarter GDP growth of 7.3% was its slowest rate of economic expansion for five years, putting Beijing’s full-year target of 7.5% in doubt.