In the first half of this year, there has been a remarkable increase of 42.4% in the production of new energy vehicles, according to the data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The Ministry of Commerce has announced its plans to explore and support the expansion of the international market for these environmentally friendly vehicles.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, the 19th, the State Council Information Office provided insights into the development of commerce, industry, and information technology in the first half of 2023. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spokesperson stated that the growth of new energy vehicle production has been impressive.
Regarding foreign trade, the Ministry of Commerce will undertake a study to bolster the presence of new energy vehicles in the global market. The ministry aims to enhance the development of processing trade and implement practical measures such as facilitating visa procedures for business personnel and increasing international flights. They also plan to ensure the success of important exhibitions like the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services.
The government is set to unveil policies to optimize the investment environment for foreign businesses, pushing forward with the rational reduction of the negative list for foreign investment access. Effective communication and exchange with foreign enterprises will be maintained through the Foreign Enterprise Roundtable Mechanism.
In terms of domestic consumption, efforts will continue to promote various consumption events like the International Consumption Season, Summer Consumption Season, and Autumn Shopping Festival. Additionally, measures will be introduced to expand automobile consumption, promote the high-quality development of the catering industry, and empower life services through digitization.
The Ministry of Commerce has been actively implementing a range of measures to stabilize foreign trade, attract foreign investment, and boost consumption throughout the year. Their work during the first half can be summarized as the “Three Batches”: first, the implementation of a series of policy measures; second, the organization of significant activities, exemplified by the “Year of Boosting Consumption” and the “Year of Investing in China”; and third, the hosting of essential exhibitions like the 3rd China International Consumer Goods Expo and the 133rd Canton Fair.
In the future, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to ensure the effective implementation of previously released policies and expedite the introduction of measures that are currently in the pipeline. Extensive research and investigation will be carried out, and policy reserves will be strengthened to wield a powerful and effective “combination punch” in commerce policy, contributing to sustained economic recovery and improvement.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s spokesperson, Zhao Zhiguo, highlighted China’s focus on the development of advanced manufacturing industries, with new products maintaining a rapid growth trend. As per the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers’ data, new energy vehicle production saw an impressive 42.4% increase in the first half of the year. China’s cumulative production of new energy vehicles has already surpassed 20 million units.