BEIJING, March 24 (Reuters) - China's Vice Premier He

Lifeng met with the heads of Apple ( AAPL ), Pfizer ( PFE ), Mastercard ( MA ), Eli

Lilly ( LLY ), Cargill and others on Sunday, a commerce ministry

statement said.

"China will continue to improve business environment and

welcome more investment by multinational companies," He told the

business leaders.

The statement did not specify where they met. Many foreign

CEOs are in Beijing to attend a business forum on Sunday and

Monday, with some expected to meet President Xi Jinping on

Friday, sources have told Reuters.