(Economic Observation) China aims to expand domestic demand, "emerging forces" "up and down force" to promote rural consumption

  China News Service, Beijing, April 27 (Reporter Xia Bin) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hosted an executive meeting of the State Council on the 27th to deploy and strengthen the construction of county-level commercial systems, promote smooth circulation and increase farmers' income and rural consumption.

  From the perspective of the overall work direction disclosed at the meeting, in the context of comprehensively promoting rural revitalization and grasping the strategic fulcrum of expanding domestic demand, the government will take multiple measures to boost farmers' income and activate rural consumption.

  As one of the troikas driving China's economic growth, consumption has become a top priority.

How to improve consumption power, release consumption stock, and promote consumption growth are the "must-answer questions" for China's economy in the future, and it is also the essence of the domestic super-large-scale market that needs to be better utilized in the process of constructing a new development pattern.

  Where is the hyperscale market?

Needless to say, the urban population has never stopped exploring urban consumption for a long time. In China's huge and deep market level, the rural market with hundreds of millions of people is an "emerging force" that drives consumption and expands domestic demand.

This year’s Central Document No. 1 also specifically mentioned that rural consumption should be promoted in an all-round way.

  As Dong Chao, director of the Circulation and Consumption Research Institute of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said, China’s rural market has huge potential, and the rising disposable income of rural residents forms the basis for rural consumption growth.

  The executive meeting of the State Council pointed out that improving the county's consumption environment and promoting rural consumption are important measures to stimulate domestic demand and support rural revitalization, with huge potential.

  What are the obstacles to unlocking potential?

Unblocking the "main artery" of the circulation network and opening up the "microcirculation" of urban and rural circulation is a key link in the overall implementation of the rural revitalization strategy.

  Although China’s rural market has great potential, at present, the construction of rural circulation infrastructure is lagging, the distribution network layout is not perfect, the two-way circulation channels and mechanisms are not smooth, and the supply of goods and services is insufficient. The “last mile” is “first”. Issues such as "one kilometer" are still very prominent. The degree of informatization of rural circulation channels is relatively low, and the construction of cold chain logistics is relatively lagging, and there is a lack of systematic, standardized, and consistent operation.

  Taking the circulation in rural consumption as an example, Yang Changchang, chief economist of Shenwan Hongyuan Securities Research Institute, said that rural consumption is an important area of ​​the domestic consumer market. Good logistics coverage.

  Sun Wenhua, Deputy Secretary-General of the Urban and Rural Coordinating Committee of the China Urbanization Promotion Association, also pointed out that according to the previously released "China Digital Rural Development Report (2020)", in the first half of 2020, express delivery outlets have covered more than 30,000 villages and towns, but many rural areas There is still a blank, and problems such as difficulty in transporting large commodities and difficulty in returning and replacing are the main factors restricting the growth of rural online consumption.

  In order to break the above-mentioned obstacles, boost farmers' income and activate rural consumption, the State Council has taken a number of measures this time.

  For example, support qualified villages and towns to build commercial centers that integrate shopping, entertainment, and leisure; support the development of country houses and leisure agriculture to attract urban residents to the countryside for consumption; develop direct supply of agricultural materials, chain operations, and unified distribution; The transportation of fresh and live agricultural products will provide support such as speedy traffic and vehicle toll fee reduction; standardize the order of rural markets, strengthen quality and safety supervision, and crack down on counterfeiting and inferior behaviors in accordance with the law.

  "From the perspective of the work deployment direction given this time, it can be described as "up and down efforts"." Zheng Fengtian, deputy dean of the School of Agriculture and Rural Development of Renmin University of China, told a reporter from China News Agency.

  He explained that "up" is to allow rural products to be sold in cities, better connect with the market, and match supply and demand. This is to create income for farmers; "down" is to allow urban residents to come. For consumption in rural areas, the products and services in the city should come to farmers through unobstructed channels to improve the quality of consumption of farmers. This is to expand rural consumption.

"In this way, farmers and citizens, rural areas and cities can form a sustainable virtuous circle under a sound business system."

  Dong Chao said that the future should be guided by the efficient connection of supply and marketing of agricultural materials, consumer goods and other commodity circulation, relieve channel blockages, make up for channel shortcomings, open up the "last mile" of rural logistics, and create circular and efficient rural distribution channels. Realize the cost reduction and efficiency increase of the rural commerce circulation system.

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