Global Times:

There have been sporadic epidemic outbreaks recently. So how does the MOFCOM view China's consumption sector this year? What specific measures will be taken to boost consumption? Thank you.

Xu Xingfeng:

Thank you for your questions. I will answer your questions. Based on a comprehensive assessment, we believe that in general, China's consumption sector will continue to restore development in 2022. Our conclusion is based on three aspects, which are as follows: 

First, despite the sporadic epidemic outbreaks, China has taken a more precisely-targeted and science-based approach in policies of regular COVID-19 prevention and control, thus stabilizing consumer expectations. 

Second, the middle-income group continues to expand, and residents' income has registered steady growth. In 2021, China's per capita GDP surpassed 12,000 US dollars, and residents' per capita disposable income reached 35,000 yuan, up by 9.1% from the previous year. So, the consumer fundamentals are secure. 

Third, the policies and measures on expanding domestic needs and boosting consumption, being put into place and producing positive results gradually, will provide strong support for consumption recovery, meaning the consumption policies are in good shape. 

We conclude through the above analysis that in general, China's consumption sector will continue to restore development.

Next, the MOFCOM will fully implement the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC and all the plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee and put into action the arrangements of the Central Economic Work Conference. We will firmly implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand. We will make it our priority to maintain stability and pursue steady progress. We will coordinate the works on COVID-19 prevention and control and boosting consumption. We will work to promote continued recovery and upgrading of consumption, to better serve the building of a new development paradigm. Our works will focus on the following five aspects:

First, we will upgrade the traditional consumption sector. Automobiles, household appliances, furniture and catering, are the four major consumption sectors and the foundational pillars of consumption. To deepen reform on automobiles circulation, we will promote the transformation from the administration of purchase to the administration of use. We will revise the Measures for the Administration of the Circulation of Second-hand Automobiles and other related regulations to expand the circulation of second-hand automobiles. We will promote the consumption of new energy vehicles. We will also encourage household appliance and furniture replacements. Furthermore, we will push for service consumption, such as catering, to restore development.

Second, we will accelerate new types of consumption. New types of consumption are a major driving force to boost consumption. Next, we will support the development of new business forms and models and new scenarios. New types of consumption, such as smart products consumption, tailored products consumption, experience consumption, and fashion consumption, will be developed. When I answered a previous question, I gave an introduction about the characteristics of innovation-driven consumption. And these are the new types of consumption. We will promote the innovative development of time-honored brands to boost brand-based consumption. We will call for a simple, moderate, and low-carbon lifestyle to increase green consumption. We will work to better play the roles of platforms such as the CIIE and the China International Consumer Products Expo and expand the imports of quality consumer goods. These are new types of consumption, brand-based consumption, green consumption, and imports of quality consumer goods. 

Third, we will step up upgrading urban consumption. The sheer size of urban consumption makes it take up a large proportion of the consumption sector. Therefore, we will speed up fostering and building international consumption center cities, accelerate the high-quality development of pedestrian streets, and pilot the building of smart shopping districts and smart stores to provide urban residents with more quality service. We will also accelerate the development of a "15-minute community life circle" and improve the community-level business service facilities, to provide urban residents with more convenient services. 

Fourth, we will strengthen the weaknesses of rural consumption. The potential of rural consumption is enormous, and the prospects for its development are excellent. Next, we will accelerate the building of the county-level business system and improve the county-level business network and the three-tiered logistics delivery system at the village, township, and county levels. We will also expand the coverage of rural e-commerce. Thus, we will increase farmers' incomes and improve rural consumption. 

Fifth, we will launch campaigns to boost consumption. Provided that prevention and control protocols were duly observed, we will continue to launch events such as the National Consumption Promotion Month, online shopping festivals, which boost brand and quality consumption, and Chinese food festivals. We will also provide guidance for local consumption promotion campaigns that combine business, tourism, cultural, and sports sectors, adopt both online and offline measures, and connect urban and rural areas. In this way, we can keep market expectations stable and bolster consumption confidence.