The foundation for maintaining price stability remains unchanged in China, with ample supply of agricultural and industrial products and overall stability in services, said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
China's consumer price index (CPI) witnessed a mild decline in February, driven by seasonal factors such as the variable timing of the Spring Festival holiday, according to the spokesman.
In addition, Fu said that in February, the price of fresh vegetables declined year-on-year, while promotional discounts on automobiles also contributed to a lower CPI increase.
He also said that from the perspective of the CPI structure, driven by improved market demand, the prices of certain goods and services rose steadily in February, reflecting the impact of stronger market demand on prices.
"The sound momentum of economic recovery and growth continues, and the market demand is expected to further expand. As we increase personal income through multiple channels, increase high-quality supply, improve the consumer environment, and continue to make efforts to promote policy implementation with greater intensity and scope such as consumer goods trade-in programs, it is conducive to the gradual improvement of the price situation," he said.
China maintains price stability with strong supply: spokesman
The Chinese capital of Beijing marked a significant milestone in expanding its trade connections with Central Asia on Wednesday morning, with the launch of its first ever freight train to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The train, carrying 90 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) filled with exports, departed from Beijing's railway logistics center and will arrive in Tashkent in 14 days.
The cargoes carried by the train, valued at over 16 million yuan (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars), are mainly goods such as fresh air ventilators, compressors, engines, and thermostats, which are all made in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. This has also been a significant step toward the region's outward-oriented economic development.
"For the launch of this freight train, we have developed a customized transportation plan based on the needs of enterprises. As for organizing the transportation, we have prioritized planning, empty container allocation, loading and transportation, and customs clearance in a bid to establish a fast channel for the train's operation," said Zhang Shusheng, manager of the marketing department of Beijing's railway logistics center.
The opening of the train route will provide important support for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to strengthen economic ties with Central Asian countries and build high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
The Central Asia freight trains connect major destinations in five Central Asian countries with various Chinese cities including Tianjin, Xi'an, Jinan, Hefei, and Lianyungang. Since July 2020, 32 dedicated freight train routes between China and Central Asia have been established.
Beijing launches first direct freight train to Central Asia
