China's Ministry of Commerce issued a work plan and a task list on Friday to further leverage the role of pilot cities in accelerating the opening-up of the service industry.
According to the work plan, tasks of the comprehensive pilot programs will be promoted in qualified pilot regions in an integrated way to improve efficiency.
Moreover, nine additional cities, including Dalian, Ningbo, Xiamen, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Hefei, Fuzhou, Xi'an, and Suzhou, will be able to carry out comprehensive pilot programs, said the work plan.
The plan added that innovative measures for opening-up the service industry, proposed by various departments, will be implemented first in these pilot regions. Pressure testing will be carried out. Based on the risk level of each pilot task, the measures will be promoted within corresponding regions in a timely manner.
The task list of comprehensive pilot programs issued by the ministry outlines 155 pilot tasks in 14 areas, including supporting opening-up and development of the telecommunications services and related digital industries, further opening up and improving service in health care and elderly care industries, strengthening international finance cooperation, enhancing innovation in trade, tourism, and cultural sectors and boosting the integrated development of advanced manufacturing and modernized services to improve the industries' international competitiveness.
The ministry said it will organize monitoring and evaluation to ensure the implementation of the tasks in pilot regions.
China unveils work plan, task list to accelerate opening-up of service industry
China unveils work plan, task list to accelerate opening-up of service industry
As China's elderly population grows, shopping malls in Shanghai have actively adapted part of their services to cater to the needs and preferences of elderly consumers, tapping into silver-haired consumer market.
This trend reflects the city's efforts to enhance elderly care services amid the population aging. By the end of 2023, people aged 60 and older reached 5.68 million in Shanghai, representing a whopping 37.4 percent of the city's total population.
A shopping mall on the downtown Nanjing East Road pedestrian street has opened a dedicated club for senior citizens, offering a diverse range of activities from the operation of health workshops to traditional handicraft classes.
"I gain a lot every time I come here. I can participate in various club activities and also exchange knowledge and everyday life hacks with others," said Fu Meilin, an elderly resident.
The mall houses nearly 60 time-honored brands, along with dining and entertainment options suited to senior citizens.
Another business district in Shanghai's Putuo District has adopted a different approach, focusing on attracting retirees during weekdays while catering to younger shoppers on weekends.
Restaurants offer affordable off-peak meal deals priced under 100 yuan (about 13.88 U.S. dollars), attracting a large number of senior customers.
To ensure a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience for the elderly, many shopping malls have conducted age-friendly renovations, including providing comfortable seating areas, accessible restrooms, and consumer guidance services for the elderly shoppers.
Driven by the population aging, China's "silver economy" has shown vast growth potential, with the market currently estimated at around seven trillion yuan and projected to reach a 30 trillion yuan by 2035.
Shopping malls in Shanghai adapt to cater to growing 'silver economy'
