实施扩大内需战略 坚持扩大对外开放——访商务部党组书记、部长王文涛

Core Viewpoint - The implementation of an expanded domestic demand strategy is essential for maintaining long-term healthy economic development and meeting the growing needs of the people for a better life [1] Group 1: Domestic Demand and Consumption - The central economic work conference emphasizes the importance of leading domestic demand and building a strong domestic market as a priority for economic work in 2026 [2] - In the first eleven months, the total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 4.0%, with an expectation to exceed 50 trillion yuan for the first time in 2025 [2] - The service retail growth rate outpaced that of goods retail by 1.3 percentage points, indicating strong vitality and potential in the service sector [2] Group 2: Focus Areas for Consumption Growth - The focus will be on key and potential areas to cultivate new growth points in service consumption, including transportation, housekeeping, online audio-visual, and tourism [3] - The 2026 policy will support green and smart product consumption through a more robust "old-for-new" policy, encouraging the replacement of old appliances with energy-efficient models [3] - Emphasis will be placed on enhancing offline retail experiences and creating diverse consumption scenarios to balance online and offline development [3] Group 3: Downstream Market Potential - The third and fourth-tier cities and counties represent a significant market, accounting for 70% of the population and 60% of retail sales, making them key areas for consumption growth [4] - The "Buy in China" series of activities will be promoted, including special events during the Spring Festival to enhance consumer engagement [4] Group 4: Trade Development Strategies - The foreign trade sector is expected to show resilience, with total goods trade expected to exceed 45 trillion yuan, growing by 3.8% [5] - The focus will be on diversifying markets, promoting balanced trade development, and enhancing service trade through improved policies and support for emerging service exports [6][7] Group 5: High-Level Opening Up - The Ministry of Commerce will expand autonomous opening in various service sectors and promote the implementation of free trade agreements to enhance trade facilitation [8] - Efforts will be made to promote cross-border supply chain cooperation and participate constructively in global economic governance, including APEC and WTO meetings [9]