Several provinces in China have rolled out a series of proactive measures to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, as part of the efforts to stimulate consumption.
In east China's Shandong Province, ten special campaigns for vehicle and home appliance trade-ins have been launched.
The province plans to hold 200 promotional activities throughout the year, aimed at promoting steady growth in the consumption market.
In north China's Hebei Province, electric bike outlets have introduced a "one-stop" platform service, integrating services such as license plate issuance and de-registration as well as old battery recycling, streamlining the trade-in process for consumers.
Dazhou City in southwest China's Sichuan Province, has witnessed a boom in home appliance sales, thanks to targeted subsidy programs that have helped stimulate demand.
East China's Jiangsu Province has also introduced a special subsidy program for digital products such as mobile phones, tablets, and Bluetooth earphones, offering a subsidy of 15 percent of the transaction prices to encourage consumer spending.
To further promote large-scale equipment upgrades in key sectors such as chemicals, building materials, and aviation, Heilongjiang Province in northeast China has offered investment subsidies and rewards for good performance.
Fujian Province in east China plans to implement 40 equipment upgrade programs in the first quarter of this year, with the goal of injecting new momentum into high-quality economic development.
In China, consumption has increasingly played a predominant role in recent years under the country's strategy of advancing a "dual-circulation" development pattern, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other.
Some Chinese provinces roll out measures to stimulate consumption
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he is stepping down as the Liberal Party leader but will stay on as prime minister until a new leader is selected, while the opposition leader complained that "nothing has changed".
The prime minister said Governor General Mary Simon had granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.
"Nothing has changed," federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on his social media, questioning what has changed with Trudeau's announcement.
"Every Liberal MP and Leadership contender supported everything Trudeau did for nine years, and now they want to trick voters by swapping in another Liberal face to keep ripping off Canadians for another four years," said Poilievre, the official opposition leader.
Trudeau is facing a revolt within his caucus and dismal public opinion polls, which indicate that his party is likely to be swept from power by Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives in an election, according to local media.
The House of Commons was scheduled to resume on Jan. 27, with the Conservatives planning to advance a non-confidence motion. Other opposition parties had indicated their readiness to bring down Trudeau's minority Liberal government. Trudeau's request for prorogation buys the Liberals time to run an expedited leadership race without facing a confidence vote.
A new session of Parliament would begin with a Speech from the Throne, setting the stage for a key confidence vote that could trigger a federal election in May if the Liberals fall.
Trudeau's decision to continue as prime minister through the next two months comes as Canada braces for the start of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's second term and his threats of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada.
A majority of members of Parliament from the regional Liberal caucuses told Trudeau over the Christmas break that he must step aside. A national, daylong caucus to discuss the matter had been set for Wednesday, but this is now moot with a leadership race underway.
Liberal members of Parliament and party members will be briefed in the coming days on the party's constitution and caucus' role in the upcoming leadership campaign. According to the Liberal Party of Canada's constitution, "upon the occurrence of a leadership trigger event," or if the leader announces resignation, a meeting of the national board of directors must be called within 27 days. In consultation with the caucus, the board could appoint an interim leader. The top party officials would also be required to set a date for a leadership vote and other parameters around the race.
Trudeau has been the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada since 2013 and prime minister since 2015.
Canadian prime minister to step down as opposition complains "nothing has changed"
