logo
Chinese tech hub Shenzhen launches plan to support consumption, exporters amid trade war

Chinese tech hub Shenzhen launches plan to support consumption, exporters amid trade war

China's top export city and tech hub, Shenzhen, is stepping up efforts to boost domestic consumption and support exporters amid a turbulent
trade war between Beijing and Washington.
Advertisement
'Consumption is the fundamental driving force behind economic growth and development,' according to a 39-point plan released by the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission on Friday.
Shenzhen will leverage its strategic strengths in four key categories:
artificial intelligence (AI) terminals, smart home systems, modern fashion, and outdoor equipment. The city will make good use of trade exhibitions and other resources to 'help enterprises better respond to tariffs', according to the document.
China's consumption market has shown gradual improvement but still requires further stimulation, especially as external demand is under pressure due to US President Donald Trump's tariff war.
At a meeting of the country's
Politburo in late April – a Communist Party conclave that typically sets the tone for economic work in the second quarter – the high-level political body vowed to 'resolutely focus on doing our business, steadfastly expand high-level opening up and focus on stabilising employment, businesses, markets, and expectations'.
Advertisement
Consumption is a key driver of economic growth, and establishing long-term mechanisms to promote consumption is crucial, according to a commentary published under the pen name Jin Guanping in the state-owned Economic Daily on Sunday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What were 2 Chinese scientists who took a pathogen into the US thinking?
What were 2 Chinese scientists who took a pathogen into the US thinking?

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

What were 2 Chinese scientists who took a pathogen into the US thinking?

Of course American authorities are deliberately hyping up their case against two Chinese researchers for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country an 'agroterrorism agent' that is commonly found across the US. It fits right into Washington's fierce propaganda campaign that makes many Chinese-born researchers and students in the United States automatically suspect, and turns China effectively into an enemy state. The Chinese side has condemned the charges as 'political manipulation'. The Chinese consulate in Chicago said it had lodged a 'stern representation' with Washington. All well and good. But I have to ask, what were those two researchers thinking? I know some scientists live in their own intellectual bubbles, but are those two completely oblivious to what's going on in these politically sensitive times, especially about crossing borders into the US? Even ordinary foreign visitors have been expelled or detained for weeks before being released for … well, for nothing. This is American border control now; its arbitrariness has in fact severely impacted tourism. Did the pair not worry about carrying a biological specimen through US airport security? Chinese citizens Jian Yunqing, 33, a research fellow at the University of Michigan, and her partner, Liu Zunyong, 34, have been charged with trying to smuggle the fungus Fusarium graminearum into the US last year. Jian is facing trial in the US, but Liu remains at large and is believed to be in China.

South China Sea: Beijing's 4 core principles held up as route to peace in disputed waters
South China Sea: Beijing's 4 core principles held up as route to peace in disputed waters

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

South China Sea: Beijing's 4 core principles held up as route to peace in disputed waters

A state-backed think tank has put forward China's 'four core principles' as a constructive framework for addressing disputes in the South China Sea , while blaming regional tensions on external actors who fuel rival claimants' actions and weaken the 'willingness for maritime cooperation'. 'China has long been committed to managing tensions and differences with disputing parties, and exercising great restraint in disputes', Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with state news agency Xinhua, said in a research report released on Sunday. China would uphold its four core principles, 'which have withstood the test of time' to transform the disputed waterway into a region of peace and cooperation, it added. According to the report, these principles are: resolving disputes through consultation on an equal footing, managing differences through rules-based co-management, achieving positive outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation, and opposing interference from external forces while encouraging them to play a constructive role. China formally presented its blueprint for cooperation in the South China Sea in 2002 through an agreement with Asean. Beijing's expansive claims over the busy, resource-rich waters are contested by several member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, a US treaty ally. Since 2023, face-offs between Chinese and Philippine vessels in disputed waters have become more frequent, particularly near Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and, most recently, the Sandy Cay coral reef.

‘Vicious circle' for Hong Kong restaurants: how many more on the chopping block?
‘Vicious circle' for Hong Kong restaurants: how many more on the chopping block?

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

‘Vicious circle' for Hong Kong restaurants: how many more on the chopping block?

Hong Kong's restaurant industry faces a bleak second half of the year as both low-cost and high-end operators succumb to the economic slowdown, sector leaders have warned, putting part of the blame on the trend of residents heading across the border to spend. Industry representatives gave their grim assessment on Sunday, just days after King Parrot Group announced it would close nine of its eateries, ending a 33-year run. The move has reportedly left over 100 staff out of pocket to the tune of more than HK$1 million (US$127,430), as concerns mounted that other restaurants would also close due to cash-flow pressures and the poor economic outlook. Chiu Kwun-chung, head of the Eating Establishment Employees General Union's labour rights committee, said the sector was facing rising levels of unemployment. 'From the struggles of affordable eateries such as Ocean Empire Food Shop to the collapse of higher-end, multi-cuisine groups such as King Parrot, Hong Kong's dining scene is caught in a vicious circle,' Chiu said. Two long-standing establishments, the 33-year-old congee chain Ocean Empire Food Shop and 44-year-old Daniel's Restaurant cha chaan teng chain, last month joined a growing list of closures.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store