China is set to promote the development of the service sector and improve people's well-being by focusing on enhancing policy support, expanding service supply, and fostering a more favorable environment for the sector to thrive, an official from the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.
At a press conference in Beijing, Li Gang, director of the ministry’s Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion, highlighted the growth of the service sector in 2024, driven by various supportive policies and measures.
"Since the beginning of 2024, the Ministry of Commerce, working with relevant departments, has introduced policies to support the service sector, set up cross-departmental working mechanisms, and launched various promotional initiatives. Thanks to various supportive measures, China's service retail sales increased by 6.2 percent year on year in 2024, and per capita service expenditure grew by 7.4 percent," said Li.
Since the start of this year, events like the Asian Winter Games and the booming cultural tourism have also contributed to the growth in the service sector, Li said.
"The Asian Winter Games have helped turn ice and snow resources into key attractions in the tourism industry, while intangible cultural heritage tourism has also gained increasing popularity. The service market has experienced noticeable growth. From January to February this year, China's service retail sales increased by 4.9 percent compared to the same period last year," he said.
According to Li, the ministry, in cooperation with relevant departments, will focus on four key areas to boost the service sector and improve people's experiences.
The first one, he said, is to improve policy support by refining existing policies, strengthening coordination mechanisms, and implementing government guidelines.
"We will enhance supportive policies in areas like domestic services, tourism, digital services, and sports services, creating a comprehensive policy package to improve people's sense of well-being,” said Li.
"We will optimize service supply by gradually opening up more service sectors, expanding pilot programs in fields like telecommunications, healthcare, and education. These measures help inject fresh energy into the growth of services,” he added.
In addition, the ministry plans to build more platforms and launch more events to promote services, with special seasons and themed food festivals. These initiatives aim to generate enthusiasm and drive domestic demand, according to Li.
"Improving the service sector environment is also a key focus, with efforts to revise and develop national and industry standards in areas such as dining, accommodation, elderly care, domestic services, and cultural entertainment. This will raise the standardization and regulation of the service industry, enhancing the convenience and comfort for consumers,” the official said.
China to promote development of service sector: official
