Core Insights - The cultivation and construction of international consumption center cities in China has achieved positive results over the past four years, with significant contributions to the national economy [1][2] Group 1: Economic Impact - The five cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing) account for over one-eighth of the national total retail sales [1] - National-level demonstration pedestrian streets represent one-quarter of the total in the country [1] - The number of "Chinese Time-honored Brands" in these cities constitutes about one-third of the national total [1] - The import of consumer goods from these cities accounts for over half of the national total [1] - The sales amount from tax refunds for outbound tourists represents around 70% of the national total [1] Group 2: Policy and Growth - The implementation of optimized tax refund policies has led to a 94.6% increase in national sales from tax refunds in the first half of the year [1] - The five cities have introduced 12,000 first stores of domestic and international brands, enhancing their consumption leadership [1] Group 3: Urban Development - The cities are enhancing their commercial space planning to create internationally influential shopping districts [2] - There is a focus on daily consumer needs, particularly for the elderly and children, to develop convenient living circles [2] - Future plans include deepening the cultivation of international consumption center cities, expanding quality consumption supply, and innovating diverse consumption scenarios [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Commerce announced the progress of cultivating international consumption center cities, highlighting significant contributions from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing to national consumption and economic activity [1] Group 1: Economic Contribution - The total retail sales of consumer goods in the five cities account for over 12.5% of the national total [1] - The number of national-level demonstration pedestrian streets in these cities represents 25% of the total in the country [1] - The quantity of "Chinese Time-honored Brands" in these cities is approximately one-third of the national total [1] Group 2: Import and Taxation - The share of imported consumer goods in these cities exceeds 50% [1] - The sales amount for tax refunds on goods purchased by departing travelers constitutes around 70% of the national total [1]

Core Insights - The Ministry of Commerce reported significant progress in the cultivation of international consumption center cities over the past four years, highlighting key data points and achievements in various dimensions [1][2]. Dimension 1: International - The international consumption environment has become more favorable, with five cities enhancing payment convenience and optimizing tax refund services, leading to a 94.6% increase in national tax refund sales in the first half of the year [1]. Dimension 2: Consumption - There has been a comprehensive enhancement in consumption leadership, with the introduction of 12,000 domestic and international brand flagship stores over four years, and the organization of various high-profile events to promote new consumption patterns [2]. Dimension 3: Center - The demonstration and driving role of these cities has strengthened, with the selection of 16 innovative measures and 12 exemplary practices aimed at expanding quality supply and optimizing the consumption environment [2]. Dimension 4: City - Urban functions have improved, focusing on international commercial space planning and enhancing daily consumer needs, particularly for the elderly and children, to create a more vibrant and accessible urban consumption landscape [2]. Future Directions - The Ministry of Commerce plans to continue deepening the cultivation of international consumption center cities, aiming to create an internationalized consumption environment and expand quality consumption supply [2].

Group 1: International Consumption Center Cities Development - The development of international consumption center cities has achieved significant results over the past four years, with the five cities accounting for over 1/8 of the national total retail sales [1] - The number of national-level demonstration pedestrian streets in these cities represents 1/4 of the national total, and the number of time-honored brands accounts for about 1/3 [1] - The import of consumer goods from these cities exceeds 50%, and the sales volume of tax refunds for outbound tourists is around 70% [1] Group 2: Consumption Environment and Trends - The five cities have improved the international consumption environment by enhancing payment convenience and optimizing tax refund services, leading to a 94.6% increase in national tax refund sales in the first half of the year [1] - The cities have introduced 12,000 new domestic and international brand flagship stores, promoting new consumption trends such as digital, green, and health-oriented consumption [2] - Various high-profile events and exhibitions have been organized to enhance consumer engagement and experience [2] Group 3: Strategic Mineral Smuggling Prevention - A special action meeting was held to combat the illegal export of strategic minerals, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy and collaboration among various government departments [3][4] - The meeting highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to maintain a high-pressure crackdown on smuggling activities and to protect national security [4] Group 4: Agricultural Product Sales and Rural Revitalization - The Ministry of Commerce has organized over 3,300 agricultural product sales matching activities since 2018, facilitating nearly 100 billion yuan in purchases [5] - The upcoming national agricultural product sales conference in 2025 aims to connect large-scale distribution enterprises with local producers, focusing on enhancing the sales of high-quality agricultural products [5][6] - The conference will feature diverse products and large-scale buyers, with a focus on supporting impoverished areas and promoting sustainable income for farmers [5] Group 5: Service Industry Expansion - The national service industry expansion pilot program has significantly contributed to over 1/4 of the national service industry value added and over 60% of service imports and exports [7][8] - The Ministry of Commerce has released multiple batches of best practice cases and experiences to promote service industry openness, covering key areas such as finance, digital economy, and cultural tourism [7][8] - Future efforts will focus on deepening service industry reforms and exploring pathways for high-quality development [8]

Group 1 - The mayor of Guangzhou, Sun Zhiyang, visited Guangdong Tobacco Industrial Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group to understand their production operations and digital transformation efforts [1][2] - Sun expressed gratitude for Guangdong Tobacco's support of Guangzhou's economic and social development and encouraged the company to integrate into national strategies such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the cultivation of an international consumption center [1] - The city will enhance strategic cooperation with central enterprises in Guangzhou to achieve mutual empowerment and win-win development [1][2] Group 2 - At Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, Sun emphasized the importance of aligning with the "14th Five-Year Plan" and leveraging comparative advantages to build core competitiveness [2] - The company is encouraged to focus on cost reduction, market expansion, and resource optimization to address external uncertainties [2] - There is a call for increased emphasis on independent research and development in the biopharmaceutical sector, utilizing various resources to promote technological innovation and create new growth points [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the Chinese government's measures to support the cultivation and construction of international consumption center cities, emphasizing the importance of boosting consumption and promoting high-quality development to meet the needs of the people [10]. Group 1: Policy Measures - Support for the development of a modern commercial circulation system, aiming to create cities with strong radiation and resilient supply capabilities [2][16]. - Initiatives to enhance retail innovation, including upgrading retail facilities, digital empowerment, and diversified innovation [3][16]. - Implementation of high-quality development projects for wholesale industries, promoting innovative business models and smart market construction [4][16]. Group 2: Consumer Environment Enhancement - Expansion of inbound policies and improvement of the consumption environment, including visa facilitation for foreign visitors and enhanced payment services [12]. - Promotion of duty-free shops and tax refund policies to encourage domestic and international consumer spending [13]. Group 3: Consumption Promotion Activities - Organization of large-scale consumption promotion events, such as the "Buy in China" series, to enhance consumer engagement [14][15]. - Development of iconic shopping districts and unique street areas to attract consumers [5][16]. Group 4: Service Consumption Quality Improvement - Focus on enhancing local culinary resources and improving accommodation services, integrating various industries such as tourism and wellness [17]. - Promotion of sports event economies and the development of new consumption scenarios related to low-altitude logistics and tourism [17]. Group 5: Supply Quality Enhancement - Initiatives to increase the supply of high-quality goods and services, including the application of advanced technologies in the consumer sector [18]. - Implementation of a strategy to enhance product variety, quality, and branding [18]. Group 6: International Promotion - Support for cities to create high-level international exchange platforms and enhance their global visibility [19]. - Increased efforts to publicize consumption policies and the progress of international consumption center city construction [19].