BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - China's market regulator

held a symposium on fair competition with executives from seven

companies, including Alibaba ( BABA ) and LONGi Green Energy

, the State Administration for Market Regulation

(SAMR) said on Wednesday in a statement.

The executives at the symposium on Tuesday discussed the

market environment, competition, and difficulties they face, and

put forward suggestions for opposing monopolies and unfair

competition, the statement said.

It quoted Meng Yang, the regulator's deputy director, as

saying the SAMR would hold seminars regularly to respond to

firms' concerns and create a fairer market environment.

Other companies taking part on Tuesday included Trina Solar

, JA Solar, JD.com ( JD ), BAIC Group

and Mercedes-Benz.

China is encouraging its private firms to invest and

innovate more to try to stem a slowdown in growth and counter

U.S. efforts to limit China's technological development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping last week held a rare meeting

with some of the country's top entrepreneurs, including Alibaba ( BABA )

co-founder Jack Ma, highlighting that concern and marking a

turnaround in Beijing's approach to its tech giants after a

regulatory clampdown four years ago.

China also issued a plan last week to stabilise foreign

investment.