China's international shopping cities see two-fold rise in foreign visitor numbers in 2024: official

China's five designated international shopping cities saw double the number of foreign visitors in 2024 compared to 2023 as a result of improved consumer confidence and increased spending, an official from the country’s Commerce Ministry said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

In July 2021, China approved Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing as the major shopping cities set up to appeal to foreign consumers. After three years of development, the five cities have seen significant growth in the number of foreign shoppers and the revenues they generate, said Li Gang, director of the Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce.

"In 2024, the total number of foreign visitors entering the five cities nearly doubled compared to the last year. The cities were home to about 60 percent of the nation's departure tax refund stores and over 70 percent of national duty-free sales, indicating a continuous improvement in the international consumer environment," said Li.

The five cities have also been exploring ways to attract more international visitors.

"By now, nearly one-third of China’s ‘time-honored’ brands are based in the five cities, and the cities account for more than half of the country's total consumer goods imports. High-quality global consumer choices can now be found in these cities, where the development of iconic commercial districts has yielded results, and the innovation and diversification of consumer offerings continues," said Li.

Looking ahead, the ministry said it plans to use these cities as benchmarks for further internationalizing China's consumer market.

"For the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will guide the five cities to become better role models, developing international standard shopping districts, enhancing high-quality goods and services supply, and innovating with consumer offerings. We will devote all our efforts to create cities with vibrant commercial hubs and thriving markets that appeal to the public and contribute to Chinese modernization," said Li.

China's international shopping cities see two-fold rise in foreign visitor numbers in 2024: official

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.

Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.

Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.

Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.

Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."

Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.

Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.

China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM