Cover News:

We noticed that the guidelines call for "deepening the green transformation of industries." Could you tell us how MOFCOM will help renowned traditional industries unlock green consumption potential in the distribution stage? Thank you.

Zhang Xiang:

Thank you for your question. Renowned traditional industries carry forward traditional culture and are an important vehicle for promoting green consumption. This year, MOFCOM and eight other departments issued the Notice on Implementing the Action Plan for Promoting Green Consumption. Focusing on three key areas, namely enriching the supply of green products, promoting green packaging and optimizing the green supply chain, we will actively promote the transformation and upgrading of industries where China has long held an edge, including renowned traditional industries, helping traditional domestic products better meet new demand for green consumption.

First, we will enrich the supply of green products and open up sales channels for green products from renowned traditional industries. We support green products from these industries in entering distribution channels such as supermarkets, shopping malls, pedestrian streets and e-commerce platforms. We will also encourage retailers to sell silk, tea, porcelain and other products that have green product and carbon footprint certification. Through the green consumption promotion initiative, we will guide businesses to make good use of certified green product labels that show a product's green, low-carbon credentials, making them easier for consumers to identify. This will get eco-friendly traditional products onto shelves where consumers can see and buy them, with better supply driving an upgrade in green consumption. We will also actively promote the principles of natural, green production and recycling inherent in traditional crafts, and bring more traditional Chinese products with cultural depth and low-carbon credentials to the market.

Second, we will vigorously promote green packaging and encourage moderate packaging for renowned traditional products. Products such as tea, porcelain and silk are often bought as gifts, so we should encourage moderate packaging and avoid waste. We will continue to implement measures to reduce the use of disposable plastic products and guide retail, e-commerce and catering companies to use simple, recyclable and biodegradable packaging for renowned traditional product categories, cutting the resources consumed by packaging. We encourage distribution companies to explore packaging recycling and reuse models and reduce the use of disposable packaging in sales and delivery, so that traditional cultural consumption goes hand in hand with cutting plastic use and carbon emissions.

Third, we will cultivate and strengthen the green supply chain and give full play to the leading role of major distribution enterprises. We will encourage large retail enterprises to leverage their strengths to promote green procurement, and build low-carbon and environmental protection indicators into how they evaluate suppliers in renowned traditional industries. This sends green demand upstream and promotes green lifestyles among downstream consumers. We will encourage coordination between upstream and downstream segments of the industrial chain, promote carbon reduction across the entire chain, build a green supply chain system that connects production, distribution and consumption, and help renowned traditional industries achieve an overall green transformation.

Moving forward, in conjunction with green consumption pilot projects and the development of a modern commercial circulation system, the MOFCOM will identify and promote successful cases and practices of green circulation in renowned traditional industries, strengthen cross-departmental collaboration, and connect the entire chain of production, circulation and consumption. These efforts will let the public practice a green, low-carbon lifestyle while choosing traditional domestic goods.

That's all from me. Thank you.