The Zhitong Finance App learned that on October 22, the State Information Office held a press conference on the promotion of high-quality business development during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. Zhao Chunfeng, director of the Department of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said that foreign investment cooperation is an important link to smooth the internal and external circulation of the industrial chain supply chain. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China has accelerated its integration into the global industrial supply chain. By the end of 2025, the foreign investment stock was nearly 3.4 trillion US dollars, remaining in the top three in the world for 9 consecutive years. In the first nine months of this year, outward direct investment in the entire industry reached 128.62 billion US dollars, achieving steady and orderly development. Overall, China's position as a major country in foreign investment cooperation has been increasingly consolidated. The “15th Five-Year Plan” is an important period for strengthening the foundation of foreign investment cooperation and improving quality and efficiency. We understand that the “high quality” of foreign investment cooperation must first be reflected in the four aspects of proper management, good service, high development quality and efficiency, and good protection of interests.
Zhao Chunfeng mentioned improving the quality and efficiency of foreign investment cooperation. We are stepping up and guiding enterprises to steadily participate in international cooperation in the fields of green, low-carbon, digital economy, etc., and promote intelligent, green and integrated development. In the first three quarters of this year, according to our statistics, foreign investment in the green, low-carbon and digital industries all increased by more than 20% year-on-year, higher than the overall growth rate of foreign investment. The green and digital aspects were more prominent. Relevant cooperation projects also strongly promoted the transformation and upgrading of local industries, achieving mutual benefit and win-win situation. In 2025, China's overseas enterprises achieved sales revenue of 3.8 trillion US dollars, making an important contribution to the economic and social development of China and the host country.
Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua mentioned focusing on “more vitality” to cultivate new momentum for consumption development. Consumption is connected to the lights of tens of thousands of families, and it is related to people's lives. At this stage, consumption development is showing some new situations and characteristics. Service consumption is developing at an accelerated pace, commodity consumption is improving towards the new, and new types of consumption are booming. At the same time, supply and demand are still strong and weak in the domestic market, and there are still many factors limiting consumption. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will make greater efforts to optimize supply, innovate scenarios, and improve facilities to continuously stimulate the consumption potential of urban and rural residents, continue to enhance the fundamental role of consumption in economic development, and better meet people's needs for a better life.
The transcript is as follows:
Zhou Jianshe, Deputy Director of the Information Bureau and press spokesman of the Information Office of the State Council:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the press conference of the Information Office of the State Council. Today, we will continue to hold a press conference on the theme of “Starting with the 15th Five-Year Plan” series. We invited Mr. Jiang Chenghua, Vice Minister of Commerce, to introduce the situation related to promoting high-quality business development during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period and answer everyone's concerns. Also attending today's press conference were: Ms. Yang Mu, Director of the Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Yang Tao, Director of the Department of Foreign Trade; Mr. Zhao Chunfeng, Director of the Department of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation; and Mr. Wu Di, head of the Department of Foreign Investment Management.
Now, let's ask Mr. Jiang Chenghua to give an introduction.
Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua:
Thank you to the host. Good afternoon to all media friends, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you all for your long-term interest, attention, and support in the work of commerce. Today I am very happy to have the opportunity to introduce you to the situation related to high-quality business development.
During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the business system worked cohesively to overcome difficulties, and achieved real and heavy achievements in high-quality development. The domestic consumer market has steadily expanded, with total retail sales of social consumer goods crossing the 40 trillion yuan and 50 trillion yuan mark; foreign trade reached a new high, with imports and exports of goods exceeding 6 trillion US dollars, and service imports and exports exceeding 1 trillion US dollars; two-way investment remains at the top of the world, absorbing more than 750 billion US dollars in 5 years; non-financial OFDI has spread to nearly 190 countries and regions, with a cumulative total of more than 800 billion US dollars over 5 years; bilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation has been fruitful; the business security system has been improved.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the “Outline” of the national “15th Five-Year Plan” made a series of major arrangements for high-quality business development and put forward a series of clear requirements. This year marks the beginning of the “15th Five-Year Plan”. We earnestly implement the strategic plans of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, firmly establish and implement a correct view of political performance, anchor the top priority of high-quality development, actively adapt to changes in the situation, accurately grasp strategic priorities and target directions, and implement detailed policies and measures. In the first three quarters, overall business operations were stable, steady and progressive. Consumption continued to expand, and total retail sales of goods and services for social consumption increased 2.6% year on year; foreign trade grew rapidly, imports and exports of goods increased 18.8%; actual use of foreign capital was 548.8 billion yuan, and foreign capital stock remained stable; foreign investment cooperation developed in an orderly manner, and non-financial foreign direct investment of 101 billion US dollars laid a solid foundation for the “15th Five-Year Plan” to get off to a good start. Among them, after painstaking negotiations, the economic and trade relations between China, the US and China and Europe have remained generally stable, creating a relatively stable international environment for enterprises from all over the world, including Chinese enterprises. These hard-won achievements are fundamentally due to the fact that the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, takes the helm and lies in Xi Jinping's ideological and scientific guidance of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Business work connects urban and rural areas, connects domestic and foreign countries, and connects production and marketing, and plays an important role in overall economic and social development. In the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, based on the “three important” positions of business work, we will focus on strengthening the domestic cycle and unblocking domestic and international double cycles, “drawing a blueprint to the end” and “working one by one” to continuously achieve new results in high-quality business development.
The first is to focus on “more vitality” to cultivate new momentum for consumption development. Consumption is connected to the lights of tens of thousands of families, and it is related to people's lives. At this stage, consumption development is showing some new situations and characteristics. Service consumption is developing at an accelerated pace, commodity consumption is improving towards the new, and new types of consumption are booming. At the same time, supply and demand are still strong and weak in the domestic market, and there are still many factors limiting consumption. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will make greater efforts to optimize supply, innovate scenarios, and improve facilities to continuously stimulate the consumption potential of urban and rural residents, continue to enhance the fundamental role of consumption in economic development, and better meet people's needs for a better life.
The second is to focus on “higher quality” and expand new spaces at a high level of openness. In recent years, unilateralism and protectionism have been on the rise, and people continue to “build walls” and “break chains,” yet China holds high the banner of reform and opening-up, insists on injecting stability into the world economy with the certainty of openness, and has always been committed to maintaining the resilience and stability of the global production and supply chain. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will actively expand our independent opening-up and expand the fields and regions we open up in a steady and orderly manner. Implement the pilot free trade zone upgrading strategy so that the comprehensive pilot platform for reform and opening-up can fully play its role. Continue to build an “export to China” brand, so that more good products from the world can enter thousands of households in China. Continuously polish the “Invest in China” business card and improve the foreign investment service guarantee system, so that China will always be a fertile ground for foreign investment and development. Improve the management system for foreign investment cooperation and optimize comprehensive overseas services, so that Chinese enterprises can go out with greater confidence and at a more stable pace. Improve the quality and efficiency of “Belt and Road” economic and trade cooperation, so that co-building countries can share the fruits of development together.
The third is to focus on “broader consensus” and make new contributions to global economic governance. At present and in the coming period, global economic governance is facing many new situations and challenges. The digital divide, development deficit, and generalization of security have become worldwide problems. Faced with problems, China will not back down; instead, it has always bravely stood at the head of the tide and is a builder, contributor, and practitioner of global governance. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will firmly maintain the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, continue to deepen multilateral and bilateral economic and trade cooperation, expand the global network of high-standard free trade zones, actively lead international rule-making in emerging fields such as digital and green, promote the creation of an open artificial intelligence ecosystem, and work with countries around the world to establish artificial intelligence international economic and trade rules.
Fourth, focus on “stronger capabilities” and build a new barrier to open development. Currently, global security issues are prominent, geopolitical conflicts are frequent, and the external environment facing China's development is severe and complex. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will thoroughly implement the overall national security concept, better coordinate development and security, and improve the risk prevention system in the business sector. Continuously optimize trade friction response mechanisms and make good use of trade remedy investigations. Improve export control and security review mechanisms, and improve anti-sanctions, anti-intervention, and anti-“ long-arm jurisdiction” laws and regulations. Promote high-quality development and a high level of safe and healthy interaction during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period by continuously enhancing open supervision capabilities and risk prevention and control capabilities.
I'll introduce so many things first, thank you all. Below, my colleagues and I will be happy to answer your questions.
Zhou Jianshe:
Thank you, Mr. Jiang Chenghua, for the introduction. Please raise your hand to ask questions below. Please inform your news agency before asking questions.
CCTV reporter at the general station:
The “Outline” of the “Fifteenth Five-Year Plan” proposes to expand the global network of high-standard free trade zones. What work has been done in this regard since this year? And what are the next key plans? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
Thank you for your question, I'll answer that question. Establishing a global network of high-standard free trade zones is a major strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. Since China and ASEAN reached their first free trade agreement in 2002, after more than 20 years of unremitting efforts, China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions. Free trade partners (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) account for 45% of China's total foreign trade and 70% of foreign investment. It can be said that a global free trade network has already taken shape. Currently, global recovery is weak and protectionism is on the rise. How to push trade partners to drastically reduce tariff levels, guarantee market access for services and investments, and coordinate connectivity rules and standards is a major issue facing us. In this regard, FTA work has great potential.
The “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan” has drawn up a blueprint and indicated the path for the construction of the free trade zone. The Ministry of Commerce will focus on the three dimensions of quality, layout, and effect to promote the overall improvement of the free trade zone construction. It's exciting to see that in 2026, we have achieved phased results and made a good start:
The first is “quality improvement.” When we measure the quality of a free trade agreement, we often look at whether the level of trade and investment liberalization is sufficient and whether the level of rules in new fields is high enough. Measured by these indicators, in 2026, we completed negotiations to upgrade the FTA with Switzerland and signed an upgrade protocol to the FTA with Georgia. Both upgrade agreements are representative of quality improvement. In terms of the level of liberalization, both China and Switzerland ultimately accounted for more than 99% of the trade volume of goods trade with zero tariffs. In terms of the level of rules, the Sino-Swiss upgrade agreement incorporates emerging rules such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, trade and sustainable development. The Sino-Swiss upgrade agreement expands and improves content such as investment, e-commerce, hygiene and phytosanitary measures, and technical trade barriers. It can be said that both agreements have achieved a leap from the original agreement to modernization and a high level.
The second is “layout improvement.” As I mentioned earlier, our number of free trade partners has reached 33, achieving full coverage of the five continents. In 2026, we will further expand our global free trade network to further advance free trade negotiations with African countries and Pacific countries using the innovative “framework agreement+module negotiation” method. At present, framework agreements for joint economic development partnerships have been signed with 40 African countries, framework agreements to enhance economic partnerships have been signed with 8 Pacific island countries, and early harvest arrangements have been signed with the Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya, and Seychelles.
The third is “improving effectiveness.” We implement various free trade agreements that have already been signed, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), with high quality, and actively organize publicity and training to help enterprises make full use of the benefits stipulated in the agreement, effectively reduce trade costs, and strengthen their confidence in developing international markets. According to customs statistics, in the first three quarters of this year, China's imports and exports to free trade partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, an increase of 30%, contributing more than 70% to the increase in foreign trade.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, promote the early entry into force of the 3.0 version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the China-Peru Free Trade Agreement upgrade protocol, accelerate the free trade negotiations or upgrading process with South Korea, New Zealand, Central Asian countries, etc., and promote positive progress in the expansion and upgrading of RCEP; further enhance the level of liberalization of goods, services and investment, and actively incorporate rules in emerging fields such as the digital economy, green development, and government procurement; give full play to the role of the FTA Joint Committee, strengthen the promotion, training and service support of the agreement, and continuously improve the effectiveness of the use of the agreement. Let more enterprises enjoy the dividends brought by the free trade agreement.
Thanks!
China Daily Reporter:
Recently, “China Haul” has continued to heat up on overseas social media. What new characteristics does this reflect in our country's inbound consumption? How to turn short-term traffic into a lasting driving force for inbound consumption growth and promote the steady and far-reaching trend of “buying in China”? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
This question is asked to be answered by Director Yang Mu of the Consumer Promotion Department.
Yang Mu, Director of the Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce:
Thanks for asking. We are also aware that “China Haul” continues to be popular recently, and many foreign friends share their experiences and joy of shopping in China on overseas social platforms. We feel that this vividly reflects that “Buy in China” is becoming more and more recognized and loved by everyone. Currently, China's inbound consumption is also showing some new changes and characteristics: categories are expanding to “new”. In the past, traditional specialties such as tea and silk were the main products. Today, technological goods, trendy clothes, Chinese health, and beauty games have become “fashion specialties” favored by foreign friends. The scene is expanding “broadly.” In the past, it was mainly concentrated in the core business district of Guangshang and Shenzhen, but now, you can see foreign friends in every city, town, street, and alley. Preferences are shifting towards “buying.” In the past, sightseeing was incidental to shopping; today, shopping is changing from an “additional option” of travel to an “important purpose” of travel. We saw in the video shared by our foreign friends that many foreign friends had completed a shopping guide and made a full list of must-buy items before coming to China. They really “came empty and came back full.”
This is not only the result of China's continuous expansion of high-level opening-up to the outside world, but also fully demonstrates the charm of outstanding traditional Chinese culture. In today's world, like China, people can have fun, buy comfortably, and stay safe and secure everywhere during the trip. Such a great comprehensive experience is worth praising and sharing!
In recent years, on the basis that the country continues to expand the scope of visa-free visas, we have launched a series of policy measures to make it easier for foreign friends to shop in China:
On the one hand, tax refund policies are constantly being upgraded. Since last year, the Ministry of Commerce, together with finance, taxation, customs and other departments, has successively introduced version 1.0 and version 2.0 of the exit tax refund optimization policy, refined N supporting plans, relaxed store filing conditions, lowered take-off points, implemented small-amount sampling, “paperless” processing, and promoted “buy and refund now” to make tax refunds more convenient. From January to August of this year, the country's departure tax refund sales increased by about 60% year on year, and the number of people processing tax refunds tripled.
On the other hand, the consumption environment is continuously optimized. Support the upgrading of key business districts, increase the number of departure tax refund stores, improve multilingual services, and enhance payment convenience. Conduct policy presentations at home, and do a good job of overseas promotion through our foreign embassies and consulates. Currently, there are more than 18,000 tax refund stores nationwide, a fourfold increase over the end of 2024.
In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to strengthen the “Buy in China” brand. While optimizing the shopping experience of foreign friends, it will actively meet the diverse and quality needs of domestic consumers and promote the upgrading of consumption quality. The first is to enrich high-quality supply, create domestic products, gather international famous products, and better meet the purchasing needs of domestic and foreign consumers. The second is to further promote the construction of an international consumer center city and an international consumption environment, and create a consumption scenario with Chinese characteristics and cultural appeal. The third is to expand the scope of departure tax refund coverage, improve supporting services such as wild card payments, and further enhance the consumer experience.
Behind shopping is a civilized encounter. We look forward to using “Chinese good things” as a link so that foreign friends can experience the vitality of China's market, cultural heritage and social landscape firsthand. Everyone is also welcome to join us in telling the “Buy in China” story, so that the Chinese consumer market can become a window for the world to observe and perceive contemporary China.
Thanks!
Lightning News Reporter:
Now that the global economic and trade landscape has been profoundly adjusted, China is rapidly moving from a major trading power to a trading power. What opportunities and challenges did the construction of a strong trade nation face during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period? In what areas will the Ministry of Commerce work to promote innovation and upgrading in foreign trade, better cultivate new momentum for trade, and promote the construction of a strong trade nation? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
I ask Yang Tao, director of the Foreign Trade Department, to answer this question.
Yang Tao, Director of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Commerce:
Thank you for your question. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, the development quality of China's foreign trade will continue to improve, export momentum will be renewed, import potential will be greater, and development resilience will be greater, providing solid support for building a strong trade country. At the same time, China's foreign trade development environment is also more complex. It faces three uncertainties, namely the uncertainty of global economic growth, the uncertainty of global economic and trade barriers, and the uncertainty of the global production and supply chain. External risks and challenges are constantly increasing.
In the next step, we will thoroughly implement the “Outline” of the national “15th Five-Year Plan”, further expand high-level opening-up to the outside world, adapt to the development trend of digital intelligence and greening, promote the further development of the “three pillars” of trade in goods, services, and digital trade, and strive to create a new situation in the construction of a strong trading nation.
In terms of trade in goods, we will focus on four aspects: the first is to cultivate subjects. Currently, China has more than 700,000 foreign trade players engaged in production and operation, and is China's “vital force” as a “world factory” and “world market”. In the future, we will promote them to accelerate innovation and upgrading, improve exports, and expand imports. The second is to cultivate brands. Support foreign trade enterprises to build more Chinese independent brands, and help overseas producers and consumers use high-quality Chinese products more easily. The third is to cultivate the market. By promoting diversification of export markets, diversification of import sources, and integration of domestic and foreign trade, we can better connect the world market with the Chinese market. Fourth, cultivate new kinetic energy. Promote innovative development of cross-border e-commerce, overseas warehouses, green trade, smart foreign trade products, etc., and create more “new business cards” for foreign trade.
In terms of trade in services, we will work from three aspects: the first is to promote the export of productive services such as R&D, design, testing, and maintenance to provide more Chinese “solutions” to the international market. The second is to support exports of lifestyle services such as travel and culture, and actively develop inbound consumption, so that foreign consumers can enjoy the efficiency and convenience of “buying in China.” The third is to expand imports of high-quality services such as energy saving, environmental protection, medical care, etc., not only to help the transformation and upgrading of domestic industries, but also to better meet the multi-level and diverse living needs of domestic consumers.
In terms of digital trade, we will work from two aspects: the first is to expand exports of digital services. Promote more high-quality online literature, audiovisual programs, animation games, etc. to go overseas, support the development of new business formats such as cloud computing and international data services, and share the achievements of China's digital economy with the world. The second is to build a national digital trade demonstration zone, test first, cultivate and expand operators, and build an industrial chain and ecosystem for digital trade.
Thank you!
Upstream News Reporter:
Foreign investment cooperation is an important part of expanding a high level of opening-up to the outside world and expanding international circulation. The “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan” proposes to improve the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation. What work has the Ministry of Commerce carried out to promote the high-quality development of foreign investment cooperation? What are your next plans? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
I ask Director Zhao Chunfeng of the Cooperation Department to answer this question.
Zhao Chunfeng, Director of the Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Commerce:
Thank you for your questions and for your interest in foreign investment cooperation. Foreign investment cooperation is an important link to smooth the internal and external circulation of the industrial chain supply chain. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, China has accelerated its integration into the global industrial supply chain. By the end of 2025, the foreign investment stock was nearly 3.4 trillion US dollars, remaining in the top three in the world for 9 consecutive years. In the first nine months of this year, outward direct investment in the entire industry reached 128.62 billion US dollars, achieving steady and orderly development. Overall, China's position as a major country in foreign investment cooperation has been increasingly consolidated. The “15th Five-Year Plan” is an important period for strengthening the foundation of foreign investment cooperation and improving quality and efficiency. We understand that the “high quality” of foreign investment cooperation must first be reflected in the four aspects of proper management, good service, high development quality and efficiency, and good protection of interests. Since this year, we have resolutely implemented the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, made every effort to promote the “four in one” guarantee system for foreign investment cooperation management, service, development and safety, and guided the rational and orderly cross-border layout of the industrial chain supply chain. We have mainly carried out the following four areas of work:
The first is to strengthen the management of foreign investment cooperation. At the legal system level, we are promoting the promulgation of the “State Council Regulations on Foreign Investment”, speeding up the formulation and revision of foreign investment management measures and implementation rules, and promoting the revision of the two regulations on foreign-contracted projects and foreign labor cooperation. At the level of industry regulations, we are focusing on implementing the two guidelines on integrity compliance and social responsibility for overseas enterprises issued last year. At the same time, we are also working with relevant parties to issue compliance construction guidelines and self-regulatory initiatives in key areas such as automobiles and mineral resources, continuously standardize the overseas business behavior of enterprises and create a good atmosphere for orderly competition.
The second is to improve bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Based on the principle of “where an enterprise goes, an investment cooperation mechanism is built”, we are actively promoting bilateral institutional construction. We have established more than 90 investment cooperation working groups with key countries to protect enterprises “going overseas.” At the same time, for emerging fields such as the digital economy, green minerals, and green energy, special working groups have also been set up with countries that have great potential for cooperation to provide institutional guarantees. At present, we have signed nearly 100 cooperation documents with relevant countries on production and supply chain cooperation, green development, etc.
The third is to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign investment cooperation. We are stepping up and guiding enterprises to steadily participate in international cooperation in the fields of green, low-carbon, digital economy, etc., and promote intelligent, green and integrated development. In the first three quarters of this year, according to our statistics, foreign investment in the green, low-carbon and digital industries all increased by more than 20% year-on-year, higher than the overall growth rate of foreign investment. The green and digital aspects were more prominent. Relevant cooperation projects also strongly promoted the transformation and upgrading of local industries, achieving mutual benefit and win-win situation. In 2025, China's overseas enterprises achieved sales revenue of 3.8 trillion US dollars, making an important contribution to the economic and social development of China and the host country.
Fourth, improve the risk prevention and control system. We have always placed the importance of maintaining the safety of foreign investment cooperation enterprises, projects and personnel, continuously improving overseas risk prevention and control systems, and strengthening the whole chain of guarantees. In advance, we have strengthened early warning and given full play to the Ministry of Commerce's role as a communication service platform for overseas enterprises and foreign investment. Since this year, we have published more than 9,000 pieces of safety information of various types. We carry out capacity building and regularly organize training on topics such as risk prevention and control abroad. After the incident, we respond well and guide companies to properly handle emergencies. At the same time, in response to the current risks and challenges facing the cross-border layout of China's production and supply chain, we issued production and supply chain safety investigation work measures this year, which strongly guarantee the stability and smooth flow of the global production and supply chain and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
In the next step, we will continue to implement the relevant key tasks set out in the “Outline” of the national “15th Five-Year Plan”, adhere to integrated development and safety, promote management and service in an integrated manner, guide enterprises to “go global” in a safe and orderly manner, and promote the high-quality development of foreign investment cooperation.
I'll answer those. Thank you!
Poster News Reporter:
The Pilot Free Trade Zone is a comprehensive testing platform for China's reform and opening-up. What are the highlights and results achieved in the construction of the Pilot Free Trade Zone this year? During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, how will the construction of a pilot free trade zone better serve the overall development of the country? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
Wu Di, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Department, was asked to answer this question.
Wu Di, head of the Foreign Investment Management Department of the Ministry of Commerce:
Thank you for your question. The construction of a pilot free trade zone is an important strategic initiative of the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, to push forward reform and opening-up in the new era. Since 2026, we have resolutely implemented the “15th Five-Year Plan” plan and deployment, thoroughly implemented the Pilot Free Trade Zone upgrading strategy, promoted the construction of the Pilot Free Trade Zone to further optimize the layout, improve quality and efficiency, and give full play to the positive role of driving demonstration and serving the whole country. There are three main highlights:
The first is to improve the overall layout and consolidate the fulcrum along the border. In April of this year, we established a new Inner Mongolia Pilot Free Trade Zone according to the deployment, bringing the total number of pilot free trade zones to 23. Over the past half year, the Inner Mongolia Pilot Free Trade Zone has given full play to its unique location, resource endowments, and characteristic industries, and promoted a series of pioneering explorations in areas such as convenient port customs clearance, cross-border financial innovation, and green computing power development. Its leading, leveraging, and exemplary role in the economic development of frontier ethnic regions has continued to increase. From April to September, the two major hub ports of Manzhouli and Erlianhot totaled 5,719 trains crossing China and Europe, an increase of 17.5% over the previous year.
The second is to step up testing efforts and improve the quality of openness. Optimize and improve the pilot free trade zone data negative export list management system. Currently, 9 pilot free trade zones, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, and the Hainan Free Trade Port have formulated and published negative data exit lists, covering 28 industry sectors. Together with the General Administration of Market Regulation, we supported four pilot free trade zones including Hebei and the Hainan Free Trade Port to launch the first batch of standardized independent opening pilot projects to actively shape and lead international economic and trade rules.
The third is to deepen innovation leadership and enhance development effectiveness. The “One Zone, One Policy” strengthens classification guidance, promotes the systematic planning of major reform initiatives to be promoted during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, important open carriers for construction, and key industries for development, etc., and continuously enhances endogenous momentum for development. From January to August, the total import and export volume of the 23 pilot free trade zones reached 8 trillion yuan, and the actual use of foreign capital was 128.74 billion yuan, up 36.7% and 19.3% year-on-year respectively, accounting for 23.1% and 26.8% of the country, making positive contributions to the good start of the “15th Five-Year Plan”.
In the next step, we will thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, closely focus on the goals and tasks of the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, continue to raise the pilot free trade zone's innovation and lead development energy levels, and contribute free trade strength to further deepening reform and opening-up and striving to create a new situation of Chinese-style modernization. The focus is on working hard to achieve the “three leaders”:
The first is to strengthen the function of reform and innovation strategies to lead the development of new quality productivity. Support the Pilot Free Trade Zones to combine their respective location characteristics, resource endowments and industrial advantages to carry out integrated innovation throughout the entire industry chain according to local conditions, attract the efficient gathering of advanced production factors at home and abroad, and accelerate the cultivation and development of new quality productivity.
The second is to expand a high level of independent openness and lead the deepening of international economic and trade cooperation. Use the three negative lists of foreign investment access, cross-border trade in services, and cross-border data flows as a starting point to expand independent openness in key areas. Support the innovation and development of new business formats and models such as cross-border e-commerce and bonded maintenance, and continue to raise the level of an open economy. Take the initiative to strengthen international cooperation in free trade parks and expand the space for mutually beneficial international economic and trade cooperation.
The third is to thoroughly serve the country's major strategies and lead the amplification of radiation-driven effects. Support regional pilot free trade zones such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Yangtze River Economic Belt, and Yellow River Basin to strengthen cross-regional collaboration and linkage, promote innovation sharing, platform co-building, and win-win development, and amplify development multiplier effects. Sort out and refine more pilot free trade zone reform results to replicate and promote them throughout the country or specific regions, and continue to release the dividends of reform and opening-up.
Thank you!
Daily Economic News Reporter:
Currently, global competition for multinational investment is intensifying, and the investment environment is complex and changing. All parties are very concerned about China's investment promotion situation. Excuse me, how effective has China been in absorbing foreign capital since this year? What are the new developments and changes? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
Thank you for your question, I'll answer that question. Attracting and utilizing foreign capital more vigorously is a major arrangement made by the Party Central Committee, and it is also a key task clearly defined in the “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan.” This year, China has faced many adverse factors in absorbing foreign investment, including the intensification of geopolitical conflicts, insufficient momentum for world economic growth, increased uncertainties, and the spread of protectionism and unilateralism. These factors have brought us certain difficulties and challenges in attracting foreign investment. Some people are even blaming the development prospects and investment environment of the Chinese economy. Whether China's investment environment is good or not, the international community and foreign-funded enterprises have the most say. Media friends all know that every year we host the China International Investment and Trade Fair, or Investment Fair, which is known as an important window for observing and evaluating China's attractiveness in attracting capital. The 26th Investment Fair held last month attracted more than 1,200 government agencies, business and enterprise groups from 129 countries, regions, and 30 international organizations. The number of participating countries and groups all reached record highs, reflecting the long-term trend of global investors continuing to be optimistic about the Chinese market and seize opportunities in China.
Since 2026, China has always insisted on using open cooperation to hedge against the impact of adverse factors, and has maintained a good momentum in absorbing foreign investment. It has shown the characteristics of overall stable scale, optimized and upgraded structure, and stable and diverse sources.
Judging from the scale of capital attracted, the decline has narrowed. From January to September, more than 47,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were set up nationwide, and the actual use of foreign capital was RMB 548.81 billion, down 4.3% year on year. Although this ratio was down, the decline was 6.1 percentage points narrower than the same period last year. This narrowing was still very large; the total import and export volume of foreign-funded enterprises was 1.7 trillion US dollars, up 24.1% year on year. The willingness of foreign capital to reinvest has increased. Profits from January to September were further invested in RMB 93.99 billion, up 4.7% year on year, accounting for an increase of 1.5 percentage points over the same period last year. Foreign-funded reinvestment projects continue to be implemented in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, aerospace, and green chemicals.
Looking at the investment promotion structure, industries related to new quality productivity have become a new circuit for foreign investment layout, and there has been a marked increase in “green” volume, “quantity”, and “new” volume. From January to September, the high-tech industry maintained rapid growth, with an increase of 33.8%, accounting for 41.6%. Looking at the amount of “green” content, the energy saving and environmental protection industry attracted 11.1% year-on-year increase. A number of foreign-funded zero-carbon factories have been launched one after another, all using green electricity. Looking at the amount of “numbers” included, the digital economy industry attracted 7% year-on-year. Many multinational companies are combining Chinese consumer hotspots, laying out online channels, deepening social e-commerce, and replicating China's operating experience overseas. In terms of “new” volume, the R&D and design services sector attracted 59.2% year-on-year growth. Multinational companies are speeding up the construction of a global innovation hub in China and feeding back the world based on innovation achievements in the Chinese market. There are also a number of companies issuing panda bonds to do business in China, which has become a new path for multinational companies to further cultivate the Chinese market and broaden financing channels.
Judging from the sources of investment, the key sources have remained stable. From January to September, investment from sources such as Hong Kong, the United States, South Korea, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Canada continued to grow. Among them, French investment in China increased by 31.8%, Switzerland by 26%, and the US by 7.7%. Major source companies continued to increase their investment in China, and their confidence in deepening the Chinese market was more stable.
The “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan” lays out a blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years, and also provides a “list of opportunities” for foreign-funded enterprises. Facing the new “15th Five-Year Plan” journey, despite facing many difficulties and challenges, we are still full of confidence. We will continue to build a market-based, rule-of-law, and international first-class business environment, open doors for cooperation, share development dividends, allow foreign-funded enterprises to participate deeply in the Chinese-style modernization process, share the opportunities of the times brought about by the development of China's new quality productivity, and achieve mutual benefit, win-win situation and common development. Thank you!
Hong Kong Bauhinia magazine reporter:
The “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan” proposes to make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment. What measures will the Ministry of Commerce take to make better use of the role of foreign investment and promote high-quality economic development? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
Wu Di, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Department, was asked to answer this question.
Wu Di:
Thank you for your question. Attracting and utilizing foreign investment more vigorously is an important gripper for China to expand a high level of openness and promote high-quality development. Foreign-funded enterprises are important participants and contributors to Chinese-style modernization, and play an active role in promoting industrial upgrading, driving technological innovation, and linking to the global market. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will continue to work collaboratively to stabilize stocks, expand volume, and improve quality to guide foreign investment to better serve high-quality development. Focus on three areas of work:
The first is to make every effort to stabilize stocks and consolidate the basic market for foreign investment. The stock of foreign investment is an important achievement of China's high level of opening-up to the outside world. It is an important link for smooth domestic and international dual cycles, and an important support for high-quality economic development. Currently, China has more than 560,000 foreign-funded enterprises in stock. In the next step, we will fully implement national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, treat domestic and foreign enterprises equally in government procurement, bidding, and standard-setting, increase intellectual property protection, and create a level playing field. We will also improve the foreign investment service guarantee system, expand the effectiveness of foreign-funded enterprise round tables, promptly resolve difficult problems encountered in business operations, and stabilize the long-term development expectations of multinational companies in China.
Second, it is to actively expand growth and unleash the new potential of foreign investment. Incremental foreign investment is an important vehicle for us to gather high-quality global resources, and it also confirms the confidence that multinational companies have long been optimistic about China. Since this year, the country has added 84 key foreign-funded projects and 6 iconic projects, with a total investment of nearly 20 billion US dollars. In the next step, we will deepen pilot projects in the fields of cloud computing, biotechnology, wholly-owned hospitals, etc., unleash the potential to attract capital in the service industry, implement direct investment tax credit policies for overseas investors to distribute profits, and more vigorously promote foreign-invested enterprises to increase capital and expand production, and lay out new track projects. We will make good use of various open platforms, further promote the comprehensive pilot demonstration of the expansion and opening up of the national service industry, provide more innovative application scenarios for foreign investment in China, and improve the quality and efficiency of the application of innovative achievements. We will support more eligible overseas entities to issue panda bonds in China to meet the RMB capital requirements of foreign-funded enterprises operating in China. We will also improve and strengthen the “Invest in China” brand, host the China International Investment and Trade Fair, an iconic exhibition in the field of investment, play the role of bilateral investment promotion working mechanisms, help all regions step up global promotion efforts, and attract more multinational companies to invest and develop businesses in China.
The third is to focus on improving quality and promoting new and superior foreign investment. The scale of attracting capital is the foundation, and the quality of attracting capital is the key. We will further optimize the structure and direction of attracting capital to leverage the growth momentum of foreign investment in technological innovation, industrial iteration, and strengthening the chain. In particular, implement a catalogue of industries that encourage foreign investment, guide more foreign investment into emerging industries and future industries, and provide more high-quality, cutting-edge products and services. Support foreign-funded enterprises to accelerate technological innovation, transformation and upgrading, and drive upstream and downstream enterprises to collaborate to digital and green transformation. We will also do a good job of supporting foreign-funded enterprises to participate equally in renewable energy transactions and continuously improving the level of facilitation of cross-border data flows to attract and use more foreign investment to serve our overall development situation with high quality.
Thank you!
Guangdong Radio and Television Guangdong TV Reporter:
How do you view the role and contribution of consumption in China's economic development in recent years? What are the characteristics and trends of the current consumer market development? What are our next steps to expand domestic demand and promote consumption? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
This question is asked to be answered by Director Yang Mu of the Consumer Promotion Department.
Yang Mu:
Thanks for asking. Consumption is one of the “troika” driving China's economic growth. To measure its role and contribution to economic growth, the final consumer expenditure index can best intuitively reflect the actual situation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the average annual contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to China's economic growth has reached 55%. Consumption is truly the first driving force. In 2025, the total retail sales of social consumer goods in China reached 50.1 trillion yuan, 2.4 times that of 2012; since the 18th National Congress of the Party, total social zero has increased by an average of 7.1% per year, and the pace of development has attracted worldwide attention. These are all historic achievements and historic leaps achieved under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee.
In recent years, with the improvement of residents' living standards and a more stable material base, the consumer market has entered a new stage of transformation and upgrading, which is mainly reflected in “two transformations”:
The first shift is in the overall structure, where consumption is shifting from focusing on commodities to focusing on goods and services equally. Judging from the rules of development, when per capita GDP reached around 15,000 US dollars, consumption began to shift from meeting basic commodity needs to the service sector, which ushered in a “structural transformation.” In 2025, China's per capita GDP is close to 14,000 US dollars, and we are in this critical transition period. Currently, consumer demand for services such as entertainment, tourism, shows, and events is very strong, and it has become a new driving force for consumption growth. Since sales of services began to be announced by the National Bureau of Statistics in July 2023, the growth rate has been higher than retail sales of goods. In the first three quarters of this year, retail sales of services increased by 5.0% year on year, 4 percentage points higher than retail sales of goods. It is expected that in the coming period, the growth rate of commodity consumption will maintain steady growth, and the growth rate of service consumption will still be faster than the growth rate of commodity consumption.
The second shift is that in terms of consumption philosophy, consumer consumption is shifting from the pursuit of “quantitative satisfaction” to “qualitative improvement.” By the end of 2025, each household in China had an average of 2.5 mobile phones, 1.1 TVs, 1.1 refrigerators, and 1 washing machine. After the “whether or not” question has been solved, people naturally pay more attention to “whether it is good or not.” On the one hand, consumers pay more attention to the quality of products and services, “they must not only get value for money, but also buy the right one”; on the other hand, the needs of different consumer groups are diverse, personalized, and differentiated. Consumer demand for green, smart, and healthy consumption continues to be released. For example, from smartphones to smart wearables, to currently popular humanoid robots and exoskeleton robots, all kinds of smart products are gradually entering thousands of households.
Overall, the transformation and upgrading of the current consumer market is an inevitable result of economic development, the improvement of people's livelihood, and the advancement of the times. It is also the proper meaning of high-quality development. China has a population of more than 1.4 billion. “In China, even the needs of the niche are big markets.” The advantages of the hyperscale market and the people's desire for a better life are the driving force for long-term improvement in Chinese consumption.
According to the “15th Five-Year Plan”, the Ministry of Commerce will adapt to the new characteristics and trends of consumption development, strengthen accurate classification policies, and work together between supply and demand to consolidate the role of consumption as the main engine of economic development. The first is to promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption. The whole chain expands automobile consumption and develops new forms and models of automobile consumption. Introduce a work plan to accelerate the application of smart products in the consumer sector to expand market space for new industries and new racetracks. Second, continue to expand service consumption. Deeply implement actions to improve the quality of service consumption and benefit the people, promote pilot new consumption formats, models, and new scenarios, and actively cultivate new growth points for service consumption. The third is to unleash the consumption potential of different regions step by step. Deepen the cultivation and construction of international consumer center cities, implement actions to improve the quality of urban commerce, and accelerate the completion of consumption shortcomings in counties.
Looking ahead to the “15th Five-Year Plan”, as residents' income continues to rise, the consumption environment continues to be optimized, scientific and technological innovation accelerates empowerment, and the coordinated development of urban and rural regions, it is expected that the consumer market will further expand and upgrade. Consumption, as the primary driving force for China's economic growth, will play a greater role and provide stronger support.
Thank you!
International Business Daily Reporter:
Since this year, China's foreign trade has maintained rapid growth. What are the work considerations of the Ministry of Commerce in promoting the high-quality development of foreign trade now and for some time to come? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
I ask Yang Tao, director of the Foreign Trade Department, to answer this question.
Yang Tao:
Thank you for your question. Since this year, China's foreign trade has maintained a relatively rapid growth trend. From January to September, the import and export volume reached 39.9 trillion yuan, an increase of 18.8%. Among them, exports increased by 16.4% and imports increased by 22.3%, making positive contributions to the smooth operation of the national economy and providing strong support for the stable operation of the global production and supply chain. In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on foreign trade work, focus on “promoting innovation” and “promoting balance,” and take new steps to promote high-quality development of foreign trade.
In terms of “promoting innovation,” we adhere to innovation drive and accelerate the development of new quality productivity in the field of foreign trade. The first is to cultivate and expand new business formats and models. From January to September, the scale of cross-border e-commerce imports and exports was close to 2.2 trillion yuan, accounting for 5.5% of foreign trade imports and exports, providing new impetus for the development of foreign trade. In the next step, we will promote the collaborative development of the entire upstream and downstream chains of cross-border e-commerce, accelerate the construction of overseas warehouses, and promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in the comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zone at home. The second is to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence. The WTO recently stated that in the first half of this year, artificial intelligence products contributed 47% to global trade growth, and China's imports and exports of artificial intelligence products also achieved rapid growth during the same period. In the future, we will promote the further development of “artificial intelligence+foreign trade”, not only promoting the expansion of artificial intelligence foreign trade products, but also actively supporting artificial intelligence technology to enable foreign trade enterprises to produce and operate. The third is to accelerate the development of green trade. Currently, green and low-carbon technology plays an important role in advancing the global energy transition, and has broad prospects for development. In the future, we will promote a further increase in the “green content” of foreign trade imports and exports to better meet the green needs of all countries with high-quality green products.
In terms of “promoting balance”, efforts are being made to promote balanced trade development and expand mutually beneficial and win-win space with trading partners. As the second largest import market in the world, China insists on open cooperation to share domestic hyperscale market opportunities with countries around the world. From January to September, China's imports reached 16.7 trillion yuan, a record high for the same period. In the next step, we will better coordinate the three elements of “policy, activity, and platform” to push the scale of imports to a new level and jointly expand the global cooperation cake. The first is to increase policy support. Continuously improve the import policy system and promote the efficient connection between domestic demand side and foreign supply side. Second, continue to do a good job in the “Export to China” campaign. Up to now, we have held a total of about 70 “Export to China” events, which have received enthusiastic responses from all parties at home and abroad. In the next step, we will continue to build an “export to China” brand to allow more high-quality overseas products to enter the Chinese market. The third is to give full play to the role of the Expo as an important open platform. The 9th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. At that time, more than 4,000 companies from 148 countries and regions will participate in the exhibition. We will work hard to successfully organize this year's fair and build a high-traffic bridge for domestic and foreign merchants to fully connect with each other.
That's my answer, thank you!
Zhou Jianshe:
One last question.
China Central Television Network Reporter:
Many “overseas” companies pay great attention to service guarantee after “going global”. How is the work related to improving the overseas integrated service system currently progressing? What are the measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce to facilitate business operations, etc.? Thank you.
Jiang Chenghua:
Please ask Zhao Chunfeng, Director of the Cooperation Department, to answer this question.
Zhao Chunfeng:
Thank you to the reporter friend for the question. Currently, the scale of China's foreign investment cooperation business continues to grow. By the end of 2025, I had set up 58,000 overseas OFDI companies, distributed in 189 countries (regions) around the world. At the same time, companies' demand for high-quality and specialized overseas integrated services has also increased significantly. The Ministry of Commerce, together with relevant departments, thoroughly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and jointly issued and implemented guidance on further improving the overseas integrated service system in October 2025. The “Outline” of the “15th Five-Year Plan” also suggests that in order to improve the overseas integrated service system, we are adhering to problem orientation and focusing on building an overseas integrated service system that matches the development trend of China's foreign investment and trade in accordance with the requirements of the “Outline” deployment and guidance.
At the practical level, we are focusing on building a “one port, one stop, one platform”. The first is to build a comprehensive overseas service platform at the national level. In response to specific issues commonly encountered by enterprises “going global” such as “what preparations should be made, what procedures should be done, who should be consulted, where to handle, how to operate in compliance, and avoid risks”, the Ministry of Commerce launched a national-level integrated overseas service platform in February of this year, linking the service resources of 42 relevant departments, regions, and business associations, and setting up 260 columns for policy inquiries and online services to form a “one-stop” service window. According to our statistics, the average number of daily views is about 300,000. The second is to establish a comprehensive local offshore service port. Guidance and support Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shenzhen and other places to combine experience and reality, innovate and integrate service resources in the public, professional, government and other fields, improve “online+offline” services, and promote high-quality supply and efficient matching of service resources for enterprises involved. The third is to build overseas integrated service stations. Relying on qualified overseas Chinese business associations, overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, Chinese legal service agencies, etc. as carriers, we extend and improve overseas services to provide continuous specialized services for enterprises to build international marketing networks and explore overseas markets. Fourth, expand and enhance professional services. Focusing on issues such as pain points and difficulties in overseas operations of enterprises, professional service institutions such as law, finance, accounting, and consulting are promoted to enhance international service capabilities, innovate products and service methods, and strive to accurately empower enterprises.
At the policy level, we continue to build an integrated, full-chain service system. While implementing the guidance, we will continue to step up our efforts in various areas, actively establish a “1+N” service policy system, and provide follow-up and full-process services for the stable, safe and healthy development of “overseas” enterprises. The first is to implement the State Council's recent requirements for enterprises to “do one thing efficiently” for overseas services, further guide local authorities to strengthen cross-departmental coordination and coordination, optimize business processes, complete approvals efficiently, and provide more convenience for enterprises. The second is to study and introduce practical policy measures in more fields. Focus on key areas of concern to enterprises such as law, finance, logistics, etc., and thoroughly communicate and collaborate with relevant industry authorities to continuously enrich the system system. The third is to continuously optimize the supply of public goods. The Ministry of Commerce has prepared and published the “Foreign Investment Cooperation Country (Region) Guidelines” for 17 consecutive years, covering more than 170 countries (regions) and has been downloaded more than 3 million times. We will continue to dynamically update and improve, guide enterprises to operate in compliance, prevent risks, and provide strong support for enterprises to carry out foreign investment in a reasonable and orderly manner.
In the next step, in accordance with the decisions and deployment requirements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to work with relevant departments to accelerate the construction of a comprehensive service ecosystem with central and local linkages, regional collaboration, resource gathering, and internal and external integration to better support steady and far-reaching enterprise foreign investment cooperation.
Thank you!
Zhou Jianshe:
That's all for today's press conference. Thank you to all the publishers, and thank you to all the reporters and friends. Bye everyone!
This article was edited by China.com, Zhitong Finance Editor: Chen Wenfang.