Phoenix TV:

Actively expanding imports is an important aspect of China's efforts to promote high-level opening-up. How do you evaluate the current import situation in China? Also, the 6th China International Import Expo will soon be held, what are your expectations for the trend of imports in the next stage? Furthermore, what has the GAC done to ensure the success of the CIIE? Thank you.

Lyu Daliang:

Thank you for your questions. China is the world's second largest economy, home to nearly one-fifth of the world's population, and creates almost 30% of the world's manufacturing value-added. It is also the market with the most potential in the world. Over the years, China has adhered to the strategy of expanding imports and has been the world's second largest import market for 14 consecutive years. In the first three quarters of this year, China's foreign trade imports have maintained a good momentum, demonstrating several highlights in terms of scale, quantity, category, structure and so on. These highlights have mainly manifested in the following ways:

First, the scale of imports has been increasing quarterly, and the import trend from major source countries is improving. In the first, second and third quarters, China's imports reached 4.23 trillion yuan, 4.39 trillion yuan and 4.58 trillion yuan, respectively, showing a gradual expansion in scale. China's imports from Latin America, ASEAN and the EU have increased for two consecutive quarters. In the third quarter, the quarter-on-quarter growth rates were 8.5%, 6.3% and 2.6%, respectively.

Second, the number of imports increased steadily, and the role of ensuring supplies and stabilizing supply chains has continued to be effective. China's imports have increased year-on-year for eight consecutive months, with a cumulative increase of 2.6% in the first three quarters. In particular, the import of resources and energy products, key parts and components that meet domestic production needs have steadily expanded. For example, the imports of crude oil, natural gas and metal ore increased by 14.6%, 8.2% and 7.8%, respectively; and imports of central processing parts for computers and aircraft parts also increased by 42.9% and 15.9%, respectively.

Third, access to imports of goods has been made more open and diverse to better meet people's consumption needs. To date, China has established cooperation relations on customs inspection and quarantine with 171 countries and regions, and signed nearly 400 international cooperation documents on the access of agricultural products and food. In the first three quarters, China's imports of agricultural products rose by 8.6%, with dried and fresh fruits and nuts, and wine and beverages growing by 22.8% and 21%, respectively. At the same time, with the steady rise in domestic consumption demand, the import of some customized and upgraded consumer goods is growing. In the first three quarters, China's imported jewelry, watches and healthcare products increased by 74.3%, 18.9% and 18.5%, respectively, and shoes, boots and bags increased by 9.2%.

Expanding imports is an integral part of China's efforts to foster a new development pattern and is also conducive to sharing China's development opportunities with the world. Next month, the 6th CIIE is scheduled to take place in Shanghai. On the basis of summarizing the customs clearance facilitation measures of the previous five editions, we have introduced another 17 facilitation measures covering exhibition access, customs clearance as well as post-exhibition disposal. In order to ensure the organization of the CIIE continues to improve, the customs authorities have further innovated the regulatory systems. Under the premise of controllable risks, the animal and plant products and food on show will be specially approved so as to boost the number of exhibits and provide convenience for more countries, enterprises and products to share in the dividends of the Chinese market.

In conclusion, with the deepening of China's import expansion strategy, as well as the acceleration of a new development pattern that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows, an open and huge Chinese market will benefit more people around the world. Thank you.