SCIO briefing on China's imports, exports in Q1 2026

Jia Huili:

The last question, please.

Phoenix TV:

Recently, short videos featuring Chinese-style living have gone viral on overseas social media platforms, and "becoming Chinese" has become a popular topic on major social media platforms worldwide. Has this online boom created a rise in exports of related products? What is the GACC's evaluation of this? Thank you.

Wang Jun:

Thank you. "Becoming Chinese" has recently been trending on overseas social media. Many foreign netizens have expressed strong interest and affection for Chinese culture by experiencing traditional Chinese daily habits, such as drinking hot water, wearing slippers at home and practicing Baduanjin. This online cultural boom has also translated into consumption demand for Chinese products. For example, Chinese people enjoy drinking tea, with exports of popular items like thermos flasks and tea leaves in the first quarter achieving 5 billion yuan and 2.7 billion yuan, respectively; while exports of related items such as electric kettles and goji berries each reached around 200 million yuan, all showing year on year growth. These daily necessities, infused with the vibrancy of everyday Chinese life, are now sold in over 200 countries and regions worldwide, serving as a vivid testimony to the high quality and practicality of Chinese goods and the global reach of Chinese culture.

Beyond the online trend of "becoming Chinese," a growing number of foreign tourists are traveling to China to experience the country firsthand and in depth. Many international visitors immerse themselves in the Chinese way of life, including traveling by high-speed rail, wearing Hanfu and eating hot pot. Their shopping lists have expanded from electronic products such as smartphones and VR headsets to cultural and creative goods as well as trendy toys. The China travel boom has driven a rapid burst of vitality in the inbound consumption market. In the first quarter, customs across the country processed more than 230,000 departure tax refund verification cases, surging more than five times year on year.

The 6th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) is currently underway in Hainan. As a global platform for displaying and trading premium consumer products, the CICPE has built a bridge between China and the world, helping high-quality Chinese consumer goods reach other countries, and also opening a fast channel for premium global consumer goods to enter the Chinese market. Mutually reinforcing trade connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the integration of tangible goods and intangible culture, help enhance understanding and jointly promote development through exchange and mutual learning.

Thank you.

Jia Huili:

Today's press conference is hereby concluded. Thank you to all the speakers and friends from the media. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Yuan Fang, Li Xiao, Zhou Jing, Wang Wei, Gong Yingchun, Li Huiru, Zhang Jiaqi, Yan Xiaoqing, You Jiaxin, Xiang Bin, Wang Yanfang, Xu Kailin, Liu Caiyi, Yang Chuanli, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Tudor Finneran. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.