MNI China Press Digest Mar 6: Services, President Xi, Vacation

Highlights from Chinese press reports on Wednesday:

• China has entered the era of consumer cities dominated by the services industry and therefore needs policy reforms to integrate digital with the real economy and strengthen offline experiences, according to Lu Ming, NPC member and director of the China Development Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. To develop the consumer era further, policymakers should speed up urbanisation and allow migrant workers access to public services. China needs to expand the services industry to create more employment opportunities for low skilled workers, Lu added. (Source: 21st Century Business Herald)
• China must develop new productive forces but not neglect traditional industries, President Xi Jinping has told the Jiangsu delegation at the People’s Congress in Beijing. Authorities must use policies to build a modern industrial system according to local conditions and resources, industrial foundations, and scientific research. Looking ahead, Xi told the delegation China will enhance the basic market system by focusing on property rights protection, market access, and fair competition. (Yicai)
• Authorities should improve the regulation of China’s vacation system to expand domestic demand and accelerate tourism as an engine of economic growth, according to Fok Qigang, member of the NPC and the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Policymakers should make vacation reforms to alleviate overcrowding, unleash consumer demand, and improve the urban-rural development gap, Fok added. (Source: Yicai)