Opinion

1. Fiscal and financial policies to boost consumption

On Sept. 1, the personal consumption loan interest subsidy policy officially took effect. Loan interest subsidy plans for individual consumption and services businesses are expected to bolster consumption, which is a key engine for Chinese economy. The policies take a dual approach from both demand and supply sides, coordinating efforts to strengthen consumption capacity and expand effective supply. Compared with previous direct fiscal subsidies, the two loan interest subsidy policies are designed to leverage more financial resources to flow into real consumer sector.

2. Addressing corporate concerns to boost private investment

Highlighting the crucial role private investment played in stabilizing employment and the economy, the State Council executive meeting, held on Sept. 12, urged practical measures to expand market access, resolve bottlenecks, and strengthen support. These targeted measures send a positive signal of promoting private investment development with greater efforts, which is of great significance for boosting the confidence of private enterprises.

Policy

1. China on Sept. 4 issued a set of guidelines to unleash the consumption potential of the sports economy, as part of broader efforts to drive the high-quality development of related industries. By 2030, China plans to cultivate a batch of sports companies and events with global influence, propelling its domestic sports industry to a scale of over RMB 7 trillion (about USD 985.2 billion), per the guidelines, which were issued by the General Office of the State Council.

2. Chinese authorities on Sept. 8 unveiled a plan to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the energy sector, aiming to enhance energy security, improve operational efficiency, and support the country's green and low-carbon transition. The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, sets targets that by 2030, China aims for its AI applications in the energy sector to reach a world-leading level overall, with a more advanced mechanism for coordinating computing power and electricity supply.

3. The State Administration for Market Regulation recently formulated and issued the measures for the implementation of the registration system for compulsory deregistered companies, as part of efforts to improving the exit mechanism for market entities, and enhancing their quality development.

Data

1. China’s services trade posted solid growth in the first seven months of 2025. The country’s services trade volume reached RMB 4.58 trillion during this period, up 8.2 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Sept. 5.

2. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, a key logistics network connecting China’s western regions to global markets, had transported over 1 million TEUs of cargo this year as of Sept. 4, marking a record high, according to China Railway Nanning Group. The cargo volume along the corridor this year had reached 1,001,455 TEUs, surging 72.5 percent year-on-year.

3. The People’s Bank of China reported gold reserves of 74.02 million ounces as of end-August, reflecting a net increase of 60,000 ounces from the previous month, marking the tenth consecutive month of rise.

4. Closing on Sept. 7, the 4th China (Macao) High-quality Consumption Exhibition & Hengqin Global Bay Areas Forum drew participation from nearly 300 global enterprises. The event also featured business matching sessions, corporate launches, and seminars, with total attendance exceeding 30,000 visits.

5. China’s futures market reported more than 20 percent year-on-year growth rate in both trading volume and turnover from January to August, maintaining a robust growth trend, according to data from the China Futures Association. The cumulative trading turnover during the period exceeded RMB 470 trillion.

6. China is now home to over 5,000 AI enterprises, with 11 national AI innovation pilot zones and 17 national demonstration areas for intelligent connected vehicle testing established, demonstrating strong innovation vitality and market potential.

7. In the first half of the year, companies within China’s high-tech zones generated RMB 26.9 trillion in gross income, marking a 6.5 percent year-on-year increase.

8. According to a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on achievements in high-quality natural resources development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), by the end of 2024, China’s total farmland area reached nearly 1.94 billion mu (129.33 million hectares), an increase of 28 million mu compared to 2020.

9. The State Taxation Administration announced on Sept. 10 that China’s network of tax-free shopping facilities for international visitors has expanded to over 10,000 stores by the end of August 2025.

10. China’s imports and exports of digitally deliverable services reached RMB 1.5 trillion in the first half of this year, while cross-border e-commerce trade hit RMB 1.3 trillion, both reaching new highs, the Ministry of Commerce said.

(Source: Economic Daily)