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BEIJING, June 13-- China will take a slew of incentives to further boost imports so as to drive domestic industrial upgrading and better meet the increasingly diversified consumption demands of people, the State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. These measures are expected to advance China's win-win strategy of opening up. Expanding imports while keeping exports stable will help raise supply quality and upgrade consumption. The Chinese government puts great emphasis on boosting imports. Premier Li Keqiang stated in the Government Work Report in March that China will actively expand imports and lower import tariffs on goods such as automobiles and everyday consumer products to promote industrial upgrading and more balanced development of trade and further diversify consumer choices. China has made notable achievements in foreign trade since reform and opening up. The country has been the world's largest exporter and second largest importer of goods for nine consecutive years, and is now the world's largest importer of energy resources. "Expanding imports is crucial for upholding free trade. Priority should be given to meeting needs of everyday life and boosting trade in services," Li said, "Our deficit in services trade may be turned into a catalyst for the upgrading of the services sector." The Wednesday meeting has decided that more support will be given to importing daily consumer goods, medicine, as well as nursing and rehabilitation facilities to meet demand of consumption upgrading and improve supply quality. The government will also cut import tax on particular goods and reduce institutional procedures and unreasonable price increase, so that consumers can benefit from these import duty cuts. | 
