China has continued to improve its county-level commercial system since 2021, boosting integrated urban-rural development and all-around rural revitalization, according to an official with the Ministry of Commerce.
At a press conference held in Beijing, Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce, brief the media of the current progress in promoting county-level commercial network and their next step plan.
"A total of 3,159 county-level comprehensive commercial and trade service centers, 15,000 township-level commercial and trade centers, and 168,000 village-level convenience stores have been built and renovated, with commercial outlets now basically covering counties, townships and villages nationwide," said Yuan.
"We have supported the upgrading and renovation of more than 3,600 county- and township-level logistics distribution outlets. Every day, more than 100 million parcels are moving in and out of rural areas, and an increasing number of residents are enjoying the convenience right at their doorstep," he said.
As for the next step plan, Yuan said that the ministry will push for the further development of a modern rural logistic system by upgrading distribution channels, expanding application scenarios of rural e-commerce, enhancing supply chain coordination efficiency, and extending industrial chains. In addition, it will encourage healthy competition and cooperation between domestic and foreign brands, and promote the diversification of service formats.
Official data showed that retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas rose 2.4 percent year on year in the first seven months of 2026, 1.3 percentage points faster than in urban areas. County- and township-level retail sales were estimated to account for nearly 40 percent of the country's total.
China to further improve county-level commercial system: commerce official
