Manufacturing, service sectors to receive boost

China is rolling out a host of measures this year to strengthen its manufacturing and service sectors while boosting consumer confidence, to implement a newly issued three-year action plan for improving the country's consumption environment.

In a statement released in late February, the five government departments drawing up the plan outlined their strategies to enhance service standards and ensure a fairer marketplace, aiming to further stimulate demand through high-quality supply.

The Ministry of Commerce said that it will keep advancing the opening up of telecommunications, education and the healthcare sector, and bring in foreign investors to offer high-quality services in these sectors.

It will also continue to improve the standards for various kinds of services, including by issuing regulations to manage and facilitate the development of the catering sector.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said it is stepping up efforts to further unleash the potential of the country's growing tourist market by strengthening the training of high-level tour guides and tour guides who are able to speak foreign languages.

It will carry out a project to enhance the competence of tour guides and hold a national competition for them.

The ministry said it supports more online platforms and art groups in cooperating to offer livestreamed performances. It will formulate inclusive and prudent policies for emerging entertainment services to create a stable and predictable environment for their growth.

The State Administration for Market Regulation said it will keep ensuring an orderly market by putting consumers first in all aspects and responding to the people's concerns promptly.

The administration said it will make regulations for livestreaming e-commerce to enhance the oversight of livestreamers and livestreaming platforms.

It will also come up with regulations to oversee online shopping platforms' own operational rules and ensure the rules are fair and transparent for both sellers and buyers.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it plans to "develop 1,000 high-quality consumer product brands and a batch of world-class consumer product manufacturers in about three years" to better meet the market demand.

The ministry said it will carry out a project to promote user-friendly electronic technologies, products and services to reduce the risks of myopia and hearing loss for teenagers and make them easier to use for older adults.

It will also strive to increase the country's supply of key components, terminals, peripheral devices and online platforms for virtual reality.

Within five years, the ministry will come up with at least 50 key standards for products used by older people and for smart home appliances, and will introduce compulsory standards to ensure the safety of electric bikes and children's products, including children's watches.

It is working on plans for the digital transformation of the textile and light industries, and will continue to push for upgrading the supply chain for artificial intelligence terminal products.

The ministry will also speed up the application of AI, the internet of things and big data technologies in the health and elderly care industries.