By Eduardo Baptista and Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING, March 13 (Reuters) - New Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought to reassure the country's private sector on Monday, saying the environment for entrepreneurial businesses will improve and that equal treatment would be given to all types of companies.

Li, the former Communist Party chief of Shanghai, was installed as premier on Saturday during the annual session of China's parliament and is tasked with reviving the world's second-largest economy after three years of COVID curbs.

Making his public debut in a media conference, the close ally of President Xi Jinping said China will take measures to boost jobs and urged officials at all levels to "make friends" with entrepreneurs.

"Developing the economy is the fundamental solution for creating jobs," Li, 63, said in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing after the closing of the parliamentary session.

Li faces challenges including weak confidence among consumers and private industry, sluggish demand for exports and worsening relations with the United States.

A career bureaucrat in some of China's most economically vibrant regions, Li talked up his track record with the private sector, which has been rattled in recent years by a sweeping regulatory clampdown targeting industries including internet platforms and private education.

"Indeed, last year there were some incorrect remarks about the development of the private economy, which worried some entrepreneurs," Li said in his televised address, without giving details.

"Private entrepreneurs or enterprises will enjoy a better environment and broader space for development ... we will create a level playing field for all kinds of market entities and we will make further efforts to support private entrepreneurs to grow and thrive," he added.

At the opening of the annual parliamentary session, China set a GDP growth target of about 5% percent, its lowest goal in nearly three decades, after the economy grew just 3% last year.

Achieving the target would not be easy, with China facing many difficulties this year, Li said.

Li replaces Li Keqiang, who retired after serving two five-year terms, during which he was seen to be increasingly sidelined as Xi tightened his grip on control of the economy.

Investors hope the new premier's close ties with Xi enable him to push for more business-friendly policies, but analysts said his remarks on Monday gave little insight on this front.

The government should address the easier access to financing state-owned companies currently enjoy over their private sector counterparts, as well as consider more stimulus measures for private companies hit hard by three years of COVID, according to Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of think tank The Conference Board's China Center.