王立勇：强化创新提升服务贸易国际竞争力

Core Insights - In August, China's international balance of payments for goods and services reached 42,818 billion yuan, marking a 2% year-on-year increase, with service trade exports at 2,546 billion yuan and imports at 3,675 billion yuan, resulting in a deficit of 1,129 billion yuan [1] - The development of service trade and consumption is crucial for stabilizing foreign trade and expanding domestic demand, emphasizing the need for innovation and enhancing the international competitiveness of traditional service industries [1] Service Trade Growth - Knowledge-intensive service trade is becoming a key driver for optimizing service trade structure and stabilizing foreign trade, with imports and exports reaching 15,025.4 billion yuan in the first half of the year, a 6% increase, accounting for nearly 40% of total service trade [2] - The telecommunications, computer, and information services sectors are experiencing rapid growth, with a 12.7% increase in exports in the first half of the year, reflecting the robust development of China's digital economy [2] Challenges in Service Trade - Despite growth, challenges remain, including insufficient supply of innovative elements, fragmented R&D investment, and a lack of a comprehensive industrial ecosystem to support the deep development of knowledge-intensive service trade [3] Recommendations for Development - Continuous promotion of service trade innovation is essential, focusing on enhancing digital infrastructure and core technology innovation to improve the technological foundation of service trade [4] - Expanding new business models in service trade, such as digital and green service trade, and establishing a supportive policy framework to foster innovation in service delivery and supply-demand matching [4] Regulatory and Financial Innovations - There is a need to deepen service trade rules, particularly in digital and green service trade, and to actively participate in the formulation of high-standard international trade rules [5] - Establishing a comprehensive cross-border financial service system and developing diverse financial products will facilitate the import and export of knowledge-intensive services [5]