China's wholesale and retail sectors generated a value-added output of 9.4 trillion yuan (about 1.32 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first nine months of this year, marking a 5.4 percent year-on-year increase. In the wholesale sector, the turnover of China's major commodity markets during the nine months increased by 6.8 percent over last year, with significant rises in means of production and industrial goods, which grew by 12.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.
Retail sales from January to September reached 31.4 trillion yuan (about 4.4 trillion U.S. dollars), marking a year-on-year increase of 3 percent. In terms of retail formats, the sales of convenience stores, professional stores, and supermarkets above the designated size increased by 4.7, 4.0 and 2.4 percent, respectively.
Notably, both cities and rural areas witnessed a surge in consumption. China's key business districts saw a 14.5 percent average rise in consumers, while the retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas reached 4.8 trillion yuan (about 670 billion U.S. dollars), featuring an even faster increase than urban sales.
Government policies and promotional activities have also had a positive impact. The ongoing home appliances trade-in program, a government-sponsored initiative to stimulate consumption, has attracted 20 million applicants and 10 million purchases, and the 2024 "Time-Honored Brands Carnival" has generated clicks-and-mortar sales of 16.7 billion yuan (about 2.4 billion U.S. dollars).
China's wholesale, retail sectors see steady growth in first three quarters
A group of Y-20 transport aircraft of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has carried out intensive multi-aircraft formation and long-range training in complex weather conditions and unfamiliar airspace recently.
The training highlighted system coordination, autonomous navigation and on-the-spot decision-making, comprehensively honing the strategic delivery and long-range air mobility capabilities of large transport aircraft units in unfamiliar battlefield environments.
In a training session that started at noon in southwest China, multiple Y-20s smoothly rolled out onto the tarmac and assembled into a formation after taking off, heading toward designated target airspace.
Unlike routine training operations, this exercise was conducted with complex meteorological challenges, unfamiliar routes, and limited ground support information. Throughout the mission, crews relied entirely on onboard advanced systems and autonomous judgment to complete their tasks.
The training not only tested operational skills but also evaluated the crews' ability to process multifaceted information, anticipate risks, and execute coordinated decisions.
During the training, the mission command simulated multiple contingencies including satellite navigation jamming, severe turbulence and sudden weather changes. In response, the crews maintained composure, sharing real-time information via data links, recalibrating navigation plans, and adjusting formation and flight paths to accomplish tactical maneuvers and emergency recovery procedures.
As night fell, the formation completed all training objectives and returned safely to base. The crew conducted detailed debriefings, analyzed flight data, and held in-depth discussions on aspects such as collaborative connection and information integration.
"Through this training, we once again verified the solid progress in the system capabilities of the Y-20 over the years. Every session now tests our ability to fuse information, collaborate as a team, and withstand pressures. This is not an experience brought about by a single training session, but rather a manifestation of the accumulation from long-term practical training. Today, we can calmly handle unexpected situations in unfamiliar airspace, precisely with the confidence we have gained one step at a time," said Liu Xiaojun, a pilot.
Designed and manufactured by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the Y-20 has a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tonnes.
It made its maiden flight in Jan 26, 2013, and joined China's air force on July 6, 2016.
The Y-20 is officially codenamed "Kunpeng", after a giant mythical bird that could fly vast distances.
China's Y-20 transport aircraft conducts multi-aircraft training in challenging conditions
