Shou Xiaoli:

The commerce work has attracted much attention as many journalists still have questions to ask. Due to time limits, we will have two last questions.

Tianmu News:

Regarding the "going global" strategy mentioned earlier, since the second half of last year, many local foreign trade enterprises have been taking overseas group trips to boost business orders, which fostered a strong atmosphere of expanding the market. What efforts will MOFCOM make this year to boost trade? What kind of assistance or guidance will MOFCOM provide to foreign trade enterprises? Thank you.

Li Xingqian:

Thank you for your questions. In the fourth quarter of last year, MOFCOM and another five government departments rolled out policy measures to ensure unimpeded channels for foreign trade enterprises to boost business orders. All localities have proactively supported these enterprises to take overseas group trips, participate in expos, visit clients, and seek business opportunities. As a result, the foreign trade sector has sprung to life. Foreign trade businesses have their own features, and an in-person meeting often works better than thousands of emails. Our foreign trade enterprises are looking forward to taking their samples and designs to the global market and bringing in business orders and clients.

In 2023, the global economic and trading situation has grown extremely challenging, and the downward pressure mounted markedly. The major problem facing China's foreign trade has turned from impeded supply chains and insufficient order delivery capacity last year to weak global demand and a drop in the number of orders this year. This is a crucial change. MOFCOM has specified that strengthening the enabling role of trade and building closer connections between supply and purchasing will be put high on the agenda. It will also ramp up efforts to support our foreign trade enterprises to boost business orders and expand the market. Specifically, we will work on the following four aspects concerning foreign trade enterprises.

First, in-person expos will be resumed. We will carry out the decisions made by the State Council executive meeting on Jan. 28 and work to fully resume in-person trade fairs and expos domestically. We will ensure the success of a series of well-known events such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, and the China Hi-tech Fair.

Second, new business forms will be better explored. We will promote the further growth of new business forms that have seen rapid development in recent years, such as cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouse. We will also give full play to digital measures to unlock trade potential and boost exports from micro, small, and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises.

Third, we will tap new demand. MOFCOM will give full play to the role of the economic and commercial offices of Chinese embassies and consulates overseas and assist local governments in organizing enterprises to carry out trade cooperation abroad. We need to strengthen research on international market segmentation, share supply and demand information in various markets in a timely manner, and help companies obtain foreign trade orders in time.

Fourth, we will support enterprises to "go global." MOFCOM will provide more convenience for foreign trade enterprises to carry out cross-border business exchanges, encourage enterprises to promote Chinese products, Chinese manufacturing, and Chinese brands in various ways, and support qualified local governments to expand their overseas exhibitions. Thank you!