China's consumer goods trade-in program has generated 1.1 trillion yuan (about 153.1 billion U.S. dollars) in sales in the first five months this year, with about 175 million subsidies directly distributed to consumers, the Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday.
As of Saturday, nationwide trade-ins had fueled a surge in transactions, including 4.12 million vehicles, 77.62 million units of household appliances and 56.63 million units of digital products -- such as mobile phones, among others, data from the ministry showed.
The program, part of China's broader efforts to spur domestic demand, has boosted a sustained recovery in the country's consumer spending, according to the ministry.
In the government work report released in March 2025, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year's tasks.
Retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country's consumption strength, rose 4.7 percent year on year in the first four months of 2025, accelerating from the 4.6-percent growth recorded in the first quarter of the year, official data revealed.
China's consumer goods trade-in program spurs 1.1 trillion yuan in sales
Demonstrators rallied across U.S. cities over the weekend to denounce the military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of the country.
The Venezuelan government said the military strikes targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.
The U.S. military intervention has since drawn widespread criticism, sparking protests at home.
Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Sunday, where Maduro is being held, calling the U.S. government actions outrageous and a violation of international law.
Others gathered in the Times Square on Saturday following the capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, saying the actions are not only illegal but also showed no respect.
"I mean, you don't just step in and take over another country. We have absolutely no right to do that. We have so much trouble in our country right here," said a protester named Sartre.
"It just defies not only human respectability in life but common sense," said another protester.
Additionally, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House, holding banners with slogans reading "Hands off Venezuela" and "Stop bombing Venezuela now."
Demonstrators rally in US cities over military action in Venezuela
