A bird's-eye view of Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian province that aims to develop itself into an international consumption-oriented city. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Xiamen in Fujian province released an action plan aiming to build the city into a consumption-oriented international city recently, following its fruitful achievements in the consumption sector in 2021, local media reported on March 6.
Statistics showed that the city's total retail sales of consumer goods in 2021 reached 258.41 billion yuan ($40.87 billion), an increase of 12.7 percent from that in 2020, ranking first in terms of growth rate in the province.
To further stimulate consumption to drive economic growth, the action plan is featured with three characteristics, which are integrating regionalization and internationalization, focusing on quality and facilitation, and boosting digitalization and modernization.
The action plan consists of 30 tasks divided into six categories. The first is to create regional consumption landmarks that are recognized internationally, such as key commercial centers focusing on comprehensive commercial complexes like the Mixc and SM.
The second is to create a gathering hub to draw a diverse range of consumer resources, such as increasing cross-border e-commerce and cultivating traditional brands.
The third is to promote a new trend of innovation-driven consumption, such as the growth of the first-store economy and the acceleration of company digitization.
The fourth is to create a supply chain for high-quality service consumption by expanding exhibits, increasing the influence of international games, and increasing cultivation and training in support areas such as housekeeping and senior care.
The fifth is to establish an atmosphere that is conducive to international consumption, such as by providing multilingual services in areas such as airports, railway stations, and tourist sites, as well as through modernizing the commercial circulation system.
The sixth is to strengthen the new mechanism for encouraging free and convenient consumption, such as cross-Straits integrated development and port clearance optimization.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
