|
BEIJING, July 31-- The State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, identified a number of measures in boosting consumption of goods and in culture and tourism to better meet public needs and further unleash potential in final demand. It is crucial to build greater capacity of effective supply, enhance the basic role of consumption in economic development and shape a vibrant domestic market by providing new and higher quality supply. Premier Li Keqiang stressed the need to stay adaptive to the trends in consumption upgrading, increase supply while fostering a more enabling business environment, and promote stable consumption growth. In the first half of this year, retail sales of consumer goods in China reached 19.5 trillion yuan (about 2.83 trillion U.S. dollars). Consumption contributed as much as 60.1 percent to the country's GDP growth and remains the most powerful growth engine. "Government departments should enhance guidance and policy support, work out more ways to spur business activities, and provide greater convenience to consumers," Li said. It was pointed out at the Wednesday meeting that, in response to the trends in commercial transformation and consumption upgrading, the use of technologies such as big data will be encouraged, and consumption of individualized goods and services, smart consumption and other new models of businesses will be boosted. Traditional shopping malls and aging factory buildings can be converted into new types of consumption facilities for multiple, comprehensive purposes. Pedestrian shopping areas can be renovated in light of local conditions. | 
