Nation's trade in services accelerating

中国服务贸易加速发展

Driven by burgeoning inbound tourism and robust growth in the knowledge-intensive service sector, China's trade in services registered swift expansion in the first four months of the year, underscoring the country's efforts in fostering new growth drivers amid rising trade barriers, analysts said.

分析师表示，在入境旅游蓬勃发展和知识密集型服务业强劲增长的推动下，今年前四个月中国服务贸易迅速扩张，突显出中国在贸易壁垒不断上升的情况下培育新增长动力的努力。

Although uncertainties still cloud tariff negotiations with the United States, China is committed to opening its door even wider and enhancing its global competitiveness to respond to intensifying protectionism, they added.

他们补充称，尽管与美国的关税谈判仍存在不确定性，但中国致力于进一步扩大开放并提升全球竞争力，以应对日益加剧的保护主义。

From January to April, China's trade in services continued to grow at a relatively fast pace, with the total import and export value reaching 2.63 trillion yuan ($366 billion), a year-on-year increase of 8.2 percent, the Ministry of Commerce said in a news release on Friday.

商务部周五在新闻发布会上表示，1月至4月，中国服务贸易持续较快增长，进出口总额达到 2.63万亿元（3660 亿美元），同比增长8.2%。

China's trade in knowledge-intensive services recorded a steady increase during this period, with total imports and exports reaching over 1 trillion yuan, up 5.5 percent year-on-year, the ministry said.

商务部表示，在此期间，中国知识密集型服务贸易稳步增长，进出口总额超过1万亿元人民币，同比增长5.5%。

The export of travel services, in particular, grew 79.9 percent year-on-year during the first four months, recording the fastest growth among all subsectors, it added.

报告补充称，旅游服务出口，前四个月同比增长79.9%，在所有子行业中增速最快。

Expanding openness

扩大开放

The surge in the travel service sector is largely attributed to China's unilateral visa exemption for citizens of 43 countries and its 144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 54 countries. These measures have fostered a more convenient climate for foreign tourists coming to China, according to experts.

专家指出，旅游服务行业的增长主要归因于中国对43个国家公民实施单方面免签政策，以及对54 个国家公民实施144小时过境免签政策，这些措施为外国游客来华营造了更便利的环境。

"China's willingness to invite the world in demonstrates the nation's commitment to expanding openness even when certain countries practice unilateralism," said Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

北京对外经济贸易大学中国开放经济研究院研究员陈健伟表示：“中国邀请世界参与的意愿表明，即使某些国家推行单边主义，中国仍致力于扩大开放。”

In addition, the country recently upgraded its instant tax refund system for foreign visitors, which, coupled with its improved payment services, makes China an appealing destination for both travel and shopping.

此外，中国近期升级了外国游客即时退税系统，并改善了支付服务，使中国成为旅游和购物的热门目的地。

While the US is attempting to reshape global supply chains through tariffs, China is taking a totally different approach, Chen said.

陈表示，尽管美国试图通过关税重塑全球供应链，但中国正采取完全不同的方式。

China has reduced the minimum purchase threshold for tax refunds to 200 yuan from 500 yuan as part of the nation's broader efforts to strengthen the clout of its consumer market and, thereby, cement its position in global supply chains, he said.

他表示，中国已将退税最低购买门槛从 500 元降至 200 元，作为加强消费市场影响力、巩固全球供应链地位的更广泛努力的一部分。

"This will compel other countries and global companies to carefully weigh the costs of decoupling from China against the dividends of engaging with the Chinese market," he added.

他补充说：“这将迫使其他国家和跨国企业仔细权衡与中国脱钩的成本和参与中国市场的红利。”

Meng Pu, chairman of Qualcomm China, said: "Amid China's fast-growing trade in services, we not only see greater efficiency and innovative applications brought by technology, but also the tremendous potential for win-win cooperation. Technology can only unleash its maximum value within an open and collaborative ecosystem."

高通中国董事长孟朴表示：“在中国服务贸易快速发展的背景下，我们不仅看到技术带来的更高效率和创新应用，也看到了双赢合作的巨大潜力。只有在开放协作的生态系统中，技术才能释放最大价值。”

Top negotiators from Beijing and Washington are scheduled to hold the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism during Vice-Premier He Lifeng's visit to the United Kingdom from Sunday to Friday.

中美高层谈判代表计划在副总理何立峰周日至周五访问英国期间，举行中美经贸磋商机制首次会议。

The meeting will come after the two countries held economic and trade talks in May in Geneva, Switzerland, during which they agreed on a 90-day pause on triple-digit tariffs to allow further negotiations.

此次会议将在两国 5 月于瑞士日内瓦举行经贸会谈后召开，会谈中双方同意暂停三位数关税 90 天，以允许进一步谈判。

Zhao Jinping, vice-president of the China Association of Trade in Services, said that with the uncertain prospects of US tariffs on China's trade in goods, it is crucial for China to tap into its trade in services as a means of buffering potential headwinds.

中国服务贸易协会副会长赵晋平表示，鉴于美国对中国货物贸易加征关税的前景不明朗，中国必须挖掘服务贸易潜力，以缓冲潜在冲击。

Looking ahead, China will push for the high-standard opening-up of its services trade by actively aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and go ahead with the implementation of the negative list for cross-border trade in services, he added.

他补充说，展望未来，中国将积极对接国际高标准经贸规则，推动服务贸易高水平开放，并继续实施跨境服务贸易负面清单。