China will step up efforts to expand imports in 2026 through coordinated domestic and international initiatives, as the country has become the world's second-largest consumer and import market, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.
In 2026, China will further encourage Chinese companies to go global while inviting more foreign businesses to enter the Chinese market by holding import promotion events through multiple channels and in diverse formats both at home and abroad.
"We will enhance the synergy between the 'Export to China' initiative and the 'Shopping in China' campaign. By integrating these efforts with consumption-boosting programs such as 'Premium Consumption Month' and the 'International Consumption Season', we aim to bring in more high-quality imported products and services and help them perform well in the Chinese market. At the same time, we expect to see more vertical and horizontal coordination among diverse market players, and better online-offline connectivity, to continuously raise the quality and efficiency of imports," said Wang Zhihua, director of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce.
The first event in 2026 under the theme "Export to China to Share the Big Market" was held in Beijing. The ministry said it will host more than 100 related events throughout the year to support a wider range of high-quality global goods and services entering the Chinese market.
China to expand imports with supportive measures in 2026: Commerce Ministry
China to expand imports with supportive measures in 2026: Commerce Ministry
China to expand imports with supportive measures in 2026: Commerce Ministry
Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.
As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.
It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.
"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.
The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.
"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.
With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.
"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.
For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.
"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.
Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues
