China announces measures to modernize retail industry

The Chinese government issued a document on Monday outlining key tasks in five aspects to promote the high-quality development of the nation's retail industry over the next five years.

According to the implementation plan on improving retail innovation, which was jointly issued by seven government departments including the Ministry of Commerce, the country seeks to initially form a smart, convenient and green modern retail system that features abundant supply, balanced layout, diversified channels and high-quality services by 2029.

In terms of improving consumption scenarios, tailored efforts will be made to renovate department stores and shopping centers, each done in their special ways; innovations will be promoted to create diverse experience scenarios such as performance, exhibition, culture and animation; and the synergy between businesses and science and technology, nature, art, sports and parks will be encouraged to form characteristic spaces through clever renovation and minor upgrades, according to the document.

In terms of ensuring high-quality supplies, the trade-in of traditional consumption goods such as cars, home appliances, and furniture will be encouraged, trendy domestic brands will be promoted, supports will be granted to the establishment of special areas and counters for elderly services and maternal and child products, and international expositions and other channels will be used to attract global brands and help Chinese businesses purchase directly from overseas high-quality suppliers, the document proposed.

In terms of promoting the empowerment of digital technologies, the plan encourages the application of digital technologies to optimize standard procedures, empower such links as the layout of stores and logistics and delivery, promote such models as smart stores and self-service vending, to make consumption more convenient, said the document.

In terms of promoting diverse innovation, efforts will be made to deepen joint operation, self-sourced operation, and the transition from selling goods to selling services, solutions and lifestyles, the document said, adding the development of new business forms such as boutiques, multi-brands stores, pop-up stores, and brand discount stores will be encouraged.

In terms of improving supply chains, the Chinese government supports to use pallets or turnover boxes as logistics units, handover units, and data units in the supply chain, and promotes a recycling sharing model without reloading of goods from pallets to pallets or from turnover boxes to such boxes to improve efficiency, according to the document.

"More business model innovations and higher efficiency can bring people greater sense of fulfillment, who will be more willing to spend, driving the circulation of national economy. A more balanced supply and demand circle can provide a strong support for economic growth," said Zou Yunhan, deputy director of the Macroeconomic Research Office of the State Information Center under the National Development and Reform Commission.

China announces measures to modernize retail industry

Sunday marked the 16th anniversary of the opening of the "mini three links" across the Taiwan Strait, comprising air, sea, and postal services, which have significantly enhanced cross-Strait connectivity.

The Wutong Ferry Terminal in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province is a bustling hub offering a round-trip service between Xiamen and Kinmen of China's Taiwan region.

Initially launched in 2001, the route became part of the broader "mini three links" in 2008 and has since transported over 20 million passengers.

Its service was suspended for almost three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was resumed in January last year. Since resumption, the round-trip operations have increased from two per day to 20, serving more than 1.15 million passenger trips in total.

"For those regular commuters traveling back and forth frequently, their biggest need is to clear customs quickly as soon as they arrive. It has to be fast and efficient. Therefore, we have established the nation's largest quick customs clearance information collection point for compatriots in Taiwan at the ferry terminal," said Chen Jinlai, deputy chief of the Gaoqi Border Inspection Station of Xiamen Entry and Exit Border Inspection Station.

"The ferry is quite comfortable within the mini three links," said a passenger from Kinmen.

"I've been taking the ferry at the Wutong terminal for over a decade," said another passenger from Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Many travelers from the mainland, especially those from Fujian to the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, can be seen after the resumption of travel.

"We will travel there (Kinmen) for two days. The customs clearance is basically self-service. There's the fast channel for senior people on wheelchairs. It's very convenient," said a passenger from the mainland.

"I traveled [to Kinmen] before. But this is my first time riding a bicycle there," said another passenger from the mainland.

In Xiamen, the cross-Strait postal service also plays an important role in communication across the Strait. At a mail processing center with the China Post, staff have been busy sorting packages sent between the mainland and the Taiwan region.

"Since our mail exchange center started operation in 2008, we have processed thousands of mails and parcels on a daily basis. On July 30 this year, we resumed the two-way mail route between Xiamen and Kinmen," said Cai Chunmei, head of the Xiamen-Taiwan Mail Exchange Center.

These services are an epitome of the "mini three links" across the Taiwan Strait. Since 2008 or even much before that, they have facilitated the flow of people, goods, and capital, playing a substantial role in enhancing common interests, especially for the people of the Taiwan region.

Cross-Strait direct links foster closer ties with growing connectivity