Premier Wen Jiabao outlined a series of proposals for local governments to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), saying they play a crucial role in promoting economic growth, providing jobs and maintaining social stability, state media reported. Wen toured SMEs in Shenzhen, Dongguan and Foshan, where he urged local governments to ease access to credit extensions, and offer preferential tax policies and more loans to SMEs. He added that financing priority should be given to SMEs that met industrial and environmental protection standards. Wen also stressed that labor-intensive SMEs must develop new products, increase product ranges, improve quality and diversify if they are to survive.