How to boost consumption, stabilize foreign trade, and expand two-way investment in 2026? State Council Information Office responds to concerns at this press conference
How will China boost consumption, support innovative development of foreign trade, and expand new opportunities for two-way investment in 2026? At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on January 26th, officials from the Ministry of Commerce responded to external concerns.
Optimize the implementation of trade in of old consumer goods and cultivate new growth points in service consumption
Yang Mu, Director of the Market Operation and Consumption Promotion Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said that by 2026, the implementation of trade in of consumer goods will be optimized to promote the consumption of bulk durable goods such as automobiles, home appliances, digital and intelligent products; Carry out pilot reforms in automobile circulation and consumption, further unleashing the potential of automobile consumption; Carry out the pilot work of rewarding invoices well; Promote the introduction of a series of policy measures to promote the first round economy.
Service consumption has become an important driving force for expanding domestic demand and promoting transformation. Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said that we will continue to implement the action of improving service consumption quality and benefiting the people, and work with relevant departments to promote the improvement of the supply level in cultural and entertainment, tourism and leisure, catering and accommodation, sports events, medical and health fields. Adhere to the principle of "opening up to the outside world and opening up to the inside world", on the one hand, expand the high-level opening up of the service industry, deepen the pilot opening up of fields such as cloud computing, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals; On the other hand, it is necessary to clean up unreasonable restrictive measures in the service consumption field that do not conform to market rules and hinder consumption upgrading.
Yan Dong said, "We will strengthen the cultivation of new growth points for service consumption such as transportation services, home services, online audio-visual services, travel services, automotive aftermarket services, and inbound consumption, improve support policies, promote pilot projects, and cultivate high-quality brands.
With the expansion of visa free countries and the optimization and upgrading of departure tax refund policies, "China Travel" and "China Shopping" continue to be popular. It is reported that the Ministry of Commerce will organize more than 20 "Buy in China" themed activities this year, organize "city specific" activities in 15 pilot cities for international consumption environment, and support local "local station" activities in various regions; Accelerate the cultivation and construction of international consumption center cities, promote pilot projects for building an international consumption environment, and pilot projects for new forms, models, and scenarios of consumption; We will also introduce policies and measures to expand inbound consumption.
Make every effort to stabilize the basic structure of foreign trade and orderly promote the opening of the service market
Wang Zhihua, Director of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, said that in 2026, the Ministry of Commerce will take multiple measures to stabilize the basic foreign trade market and orderly promote the opening of the service market.
Service trade and digital trade are important drivers for promoting innovative development in trade. Wang Zhihua said that by 2026, the negative list management system for cross-border service trade will be improved, and a national demonstration zone for innovative development of service trade will be established. Expand the export of advantageous productive services, promote the agglomeration and development of service trade such as intellectual property and human resources, encourage professional service institutions such as design, consulting, finance, accounting, and law to enhance their international service capabilities, and encourage the export of traditional advantageous services such as Chinese education, traditional Chinese medicine, and Chinese cuisine.
In terms of innovative development of digital trade, the construction of a national digital trade demonstration zone will be launched. Develop standards related to digital trade and promote compatibility between domestic and international standards. Promote the digital transformation of service outsourcing and cultivate and strengthen digital trade operators.
Economic and trade cooperation is an important part of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". We will promote the signing of free trade agreements with more willing co building countries and establish a working group for smooth trade. We will continue to build the 'Export to China' brand, make good use of major exhibition platforms such as the China International Import Expo, and expand imports from co building countries, "Yan Dong said.
In 2026, China will unwaveringly promote high-level opening up to the outside world, promote innovative and balanced development of trade, not only willing to be the 'world factory', but also willing to be the 'world market'. China's super large market will provide broader opportunities for products and services of various countries, and China's high-quality development will continuously inject new impetus into the world economy, "said Wang Zhihua.
Efforts will be made to shape new advantages in attracting foreign investment. The overseas comprehensive service platform will be launched
In 2026, we will unwaveringly expand high-level opening-up to the outside world and focus on shaping new advantages in attracting foreign investment, "said Wang Ya, the head of the Foreign Investment Management Department of the Ministry of Commerce. We will orderly expand the independent opening-up of telecommunications, healthcare, education and other fields, promote the early landing of pilot projects, and ensure that foreign investment is" both admitted and allowed to operate "in the already opened fields.
At the same time, we will implement policies and measures such as tax credits for direct investment by foreign investors based on profits obtained in China, and encourage foreign investment in industrial catalogs. We will provide equal support to foreign-invested enterprises to participate in activities such as boosting consumption, government procurement, and bidding; Fully implement the national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, focus on the concerns of foreign-funded enterprises, continuously optimize services, hold a roundtable meeting for foreign-funded enterprises, and continue to carry out the work of "service guarantee for foreign enterprises".
In 2026, China will accelerate the process of promoting regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements. Wang Ya stated that in terms of "quantity", we will continue to promote free trade cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Switzerland, South Korea, New Zealand, Pacific Island countries, Central Asian and African countries; In terms of "quality", we will actively expand independent opening up, with a focus on the service industry to expand market access and open up areas, improve investment liberalization, facilitation, and protection levels, and promote the inclusion of high-level digital economy, green economy, and other rules; In terms of effectiveness, we will continue to implement the agreement, leverage international high standard economic and trade rules to deepen domestic reforms, and promote domestic reforms in areas such as property rights protection, industrial subsidies, environmental standards, labor protection, and government procurement.
When it comes to foreign investment, Wang Ya said that a national level comprehensive overseas service platform will be built. Coordinate service resources in fields such as foreign affairs, law, finance and taxation, finance, economy and trade, logistics, customs, and trade promotion, and form a "one window" and "one-stop" overseas service platform based on the common needs of enterprises going global. The platform will be launched on the website of the Ministry of Commerce in the near future.