The State Council has 20 measures to boost consumption: explore and implement measures to gradually relax or cancel restrictions on car purchases

The People's Governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and all ministries, commissions, and directly affiliated agencies of the State Council:

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to developing circulation and expanding consumption. In recent years, various regions and departments have actively implemented the central government's decisions and arrangements, achieved good results, and the domestic market has maintained stable operation. However, due to the combined influence of multiple factors at home and abroad, the current circulation and consumption field still faces some bottlenecks and shortcomings, especially the innovation and transformation of traditional circulation enterprises needs to be strengthened, the effective supply of goods and life services is insufficient, the consumption environment needs to be further optimized, and the consumption potential in urban and rural areas needs to be tapped. In order to promote the innovative development of circulation, optimize the consumption environment, promote commercial prosperity, stimulate domestic consumption potential, better meet the consumption needs of the people, and promote the sustained and healthy development of the national economy, with the approval of the State Council, the following opinions are now put forward:

1. Promote the development of new formats and models of circulation. In line with the trend of business transformation and consumption upgrading, encourage the use of modern information technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and mobile Internet, promote cross-border integration of business, travel, culture, and sports, and form more new circulation platforms, new formats, and new models. Guide e-commerce platforms to empower production enterprises with data, promote personalized design and flexible production, and cultivate new business models such as customized consumption, smart consumption, information consumption, and fashion consumption. Encourage the development of "Internet + second-hand goods" and "Internet + resource recycling" to promote circular consumption. Implement inclusive and prudent supervision to promote the healthy and orderly development of new formats and models of circulation. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the General Administration of Sports are responsible for their respective duties)

2. Promote the innovation, transformation and upgrading of traditional circulation enterprises. Support offline business entities to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of new concepts, new technologies and new designs, and transform into scene-based, experiential, interactive and comprehensive consumption places. Encourage traditional department stores, large sports stadiums, old industrial plants and other places with operating difficulties to transform into multifunctional and comprehensive new consumption carriers such as commercial complexes, consumer experience centers, fitness and leisure entertainment centers. Provide support in urban planning adjustments, public infrastructure support, and land guarantee for renovation and expansion. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Sports are responsible for their respective duties)

3. Reconstruct and upgrade commercial pedestrian streets. Local governments can support the construction and reconstruction of commercial pedestrian street infrastructure, transportation facilities, information platforms and credit systems based on actual conditions, and improve the quality and digital management service level. Under the premise of complying with public safety, support commercial pedestrian streets and other commercial blocks that meet the conditions to carry out outdoor marketing to create a standardized, orderly and colorful business atmosphere. Expand the scope of the national demonstration pedestrian street renovation and upgrading pilot. (The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Administration for Market Regulation are responsible for their respective duties)

4. Accelerate the development of chain convenience stores. Deepen the "delegation, regulation and service" reform, and explore further optimization of food business license conditions on the premise of ensuring food safety; incorporate intelligent and branded chain convenience stores into the construction of urban public service infrastructure system; strengthen the management responsibility of chain enterprise headquarters, simplify the fire safety inspection before the store is put into use and opened for business, and implement informed commitment management; qualified enterprises engaged in book and newspaper distribution business shall implement "headquarters approval, single store filing". Support local governments to explore the trial of "one license, multiple locations" registration for qualified brand chain enterprises. Carry out a pilot project to simplify the approval procedures for tobacco and Class B over-the-counter drugs. (The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Press and Publication Administration, the Tobacco Bureau, and the Drug Administration are responsible for their respective duties)

5. Optimize community convenience service facilities. Create an "Internet + Community" public service platform, build and renovate a number of community life service centers, coordinate the construction of community education, culture, medical care, elderly care, housekeeping, sports and other life service facilities, improve social services, and create a convenient consumption circle. Areas with conditions can be included in the scope of urban old community renovation, given financial support, and enjoy relevant tax and fee preferential policies according to regulations. Encourage social organizations to provide social services. (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Health Commission, State Administration of Taxation, General Administration of Sports are responsible for their respective duties)

6. Accelerate the development of rural circulation system. Transform and upgrade rural circulation infrastructure, and promote the formation of a rural circulation service network centered on towns and villages. Expand the coverage of e-commerce in rural areas, optimize express delivery services and Internet access, train rural e-commerce talents, improve the level of rural e-commerce development, and expand rural consumption. Improve and enhance the supply of rural tourism goods and services, and encourage regions with conditions to cultivate characteristic rural leisure, tourism, sightseeing and other consumer markets. (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Postal Administration are responsible for their respective duties)

7. Expand the circulation of agricultural products. Accelerate the construction of the market system of agricultural product production areas, implement the "Internet +" agricultural product out of the village and into the city project, accelerate the development of agricultural product cold chain logistics, improve the agricultural product circulation system, increase support for the construction of integrated distribution facilities such as agricultural product sorting, processing, packaging, and pre-cooling, and strengthen the construction of modern circulation infrastructure for production bases in characteristic agricultural product advantage areas. Expand online and offline sales channels for green and ecological products, enrich urban and rural market supply, and expand consumption of fresh agricultural products. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for their respective duties)

8. Expand domestic sales channels for export products. Promote the expansion of the scope of implementation of "same production line, same standard, same quality" for domestic and foreign products, guide export enterprises to build their own brands, and expand the domestic market network. Actively promote the pilot program of general taxpayer qualification for value-added tax in comprehensive bonded areas, and implement the policy of allowing processing and manufacturing enterprises in comprehensive bonded areas to undertake commissioned processing business outside the domestic area. (The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, and the State Administration for Market Regulation are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

9. Satisfy the consumption demand for high-quality foreign goods. Allow the establishment of bonded display and trading platforms in special customs supervision areas. Take into account the development characteristics and trends of free trade pilot zones and comprehensive bonded areas, expand the scope of pilot cities for cross-border e-commerce retail imports, follow the trend of commodity consumption upgrading, and promptly adjust and expand the list of cross-border e-commerce retail import commodities. (The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation are responsible for their respective duties)

10. Release the potential of automobile consumption. Regions that implement automobile purchase restrictions should explore and implement specific measures to gradually relax or cancel the restrictions based on actual conditions. Places with conditions should actively support the purchase of new energy vehicles. Promote the circulation of used cars, further implement the policy of completely canceling the restrictions on the relocation of used cars, and key areas for air pollution prevention and control should allow used cars that meet the emission standards for in-use cars to be traded and circulated within the province (city). (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for their respective duties)

11. Support the exchange of old green and smart products for new ones. Qualified circulation enterprises are encouraged to recycle old electronic and electrical products discarded by consumers, and replace them with green, energy-saving, and smart electronic and electrical products such as ultra-high-definition TVs, energy-saving refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and smart phones at a discount to expand green and smart consumption. Localities with conditions will provide certain support for carrying out related product promotion activities, building information platforms and recycling systems, etc. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for their respective duties)

12. Activate nighttime commerce and markets. Encourage major business districts and specialty commercial streets to be closely integrated with culture, tourism, and leisure, appropriately extend business hours, and open late-night business areas, 24-hour convenience stores, and "late-night canteens" and other specialty dining districts. Areas with conditions can increase investment to create nighttime consumption scenes and gathering areas, improve supporting measures such as nighttime transportation, safety, and the environment, and increase the convenience and activity of nighttime consumption. (The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Emergency Management are responsible for their respective duties)

13. Expand holiday consumption space. Encourage places with conditions to make full use of open public spaces, open holiday pedestrian streets, weekend markets, leisure and cultural and sports areas and other regular consumption places, organize special consumption promotion activities, and explore and cultivate professional management entities. Local governments should provide planning guidance, site facilities, traffic safety and other aspects of support based on actual conditions. (The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the State Administration for Market Regulation are responsible for their respective duties)

14. Build a brand product marketing platform. Actively cultivate and form a number of international consumer center cities, guide independent brands to enhance market influence and recognition, and promote the synchronization of international brands sold domestically with developed countries in terms of quality, price, time to market, and after-sales service. Adapt measures to local conditions and create conditions to attract well-known brands to open their first stores and launch new products, drive the expansion of consumption, and promote domestic industrial upgrading. Protect and develop Chinese time-honored brands. For traditional skills that really need to be protected in Chinese time-honored brands, relevant funds for the protection of intangible cultural heritage can be applied in accordance with relevant regulations. (The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the State Administration for Market Regulation are responsible for their respective duties)

15. Reduce the costs of distribution companies. Promote the full implementation of the same price policy for industrial and commercial electricity as soon as possible. Local governments shall not interfere with chain enterprises applying for and enjoying the tax policy of head office and branch offices in accordance with the law. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Administration of Taxation are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

16. Encourage R&D and innovation in circulation enterprises. Study to further expand the scope of application of the policy of tax deduction for R&D expenses. Increase support for the import of high-performance logistics equipment that cannot be produced domestically and is urgently needed by industry enterprises to reduce logistics costs; study to include relevant fields in the "encouraged category" of the "Guidelines for Industrial Structure Adjustment" to promote the development of advanced logistics equipment industry and accelerate the development of modern logistics. (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, and State Administration of Taxation are responsible for their respective duties)

17. Expand market access for refined oil products. Cancel the approval of wholesale and storage business qualifications for refined oil products, delegate the approval of retail business qualifications for refined oil products to prefecture-level municipal governments, strengthen the on-site and post-event supervision of refined oil product circulation, and strengthen the implementation of safety measures. Areas below the township level that meet the conditions can use existing collective construction land to build gas stations, gas stations, charging stations, etc., and expand refined oil market consumption. (National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Emergency Management, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration for Market Regulation are responsible for their respective duties)

18. Give full play to the guiding role of fiscal funds. Make good use of existing special funds or policies such as the central fiscal service industry development funds to make up for the shortcomings in the circulation field. Local governments can take appropriate measures to strengthen fiscal support for innovative development of circulation and promotion of expanded consumption. (The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for their respective duties)

19. Increase financial support. Encourage financial institutions to innovate consumer credit products and services and promote the development of professional consumer finance organizations. Encourage financial institutions to provide credit support for residents to purchase green smart products such as new energy vehicles, green smart home appliances, smart homes, and water-saving appliances, and increase financial support for new consumer areas. (The People's Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission are responsible for their respective duties)

20. Optimize the market circulation environment. Strengthen the construction of the consumer credit system and accelerate the construction of an important product traceability system covering both online and offline. Severely crack down on illegal activities such as the sale of infringing and counterfeit goods and the publication of false advertisements online and offline, and increase market governance in rural and urban-rural fringe areas for consumer goods such as food, medicine, auto parts, and small household appliances. Revise the regulations on the responsibility for repair, replacement, and return of consumer goods such as automobiles and flat-screen TVs. Actively advocate that companies implement a no-reason return system. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the State Food and Drug Administration are responsible for their respective duties)

All regions and relevant departments should fully recognize the importance of innovative development of circulation, promoting consumption upgrades, and promoting the expansion of consumption, and earnestly implement various policies and measures. All regions should improve policies and measures in light of local conditions and conscientiously organize their implementation. All relevant departments should fulfill their responsibilities, strengthen cooperation, form joint forces, and ensure that various policies and measures are fully implemented.

General Office of the State Council

August 16, 2019

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.