At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing on August 26, Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the ministry will focus on three key areas to address the public's demand for high-quality, diverse, and personalized consumption. These efforts aim to expand the supply of premium consumer goods, enhance the influence of Chinese consumer brands, and enrich diverse consumption scenarios, ultimately filling people's shopping carts with better options and ensuring that quality supply from various industries meets the quality-of-life needs of households nationwide.
The consumer goods industry represents a traditional advantage sector and a vital livelihood industry in China. Data shows that from January to July this year, the added value of consumer goods industries above designated size grew by 4.5% year-on-year, accounting for 26.1% of the total added value of all industries above designated size. To date, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has promoted 293 enterprise brands and 119 regional brands under the "China Consumer Famous Brands" initiative, while releasing 1,021 upgraded and innovative consumer products.
Over the next five years, the ministry will intensify efforts to expand the supply of quality consumer goods. This includes implementing the "AI Plus Three Products" special initiative, accelerating the cultivation of outstanding brands in textiles and apparel, and promoting cross-brand interoperability for smart home devices. Xin Guobin specifically noted during the press conference that it is common for households to own appliances from different brands, making it imperative to accelerate work on cross-brand interconnection and interoperability in the smart home sector. Additionally, in response to hot topics related to people's livelihoods, the ministry will vigorously develop specialty consumer goods such as health foods, sports equipment, and educational toys, while strengthening standards for smart homes, elderly care products, and infant and child supplies.
Regarding enhancing the influence of Chinese consumer brands, Xin Guobin candidly acknowledged, "Our supply capacity is very strong, but brand influence has always been a shortcoming, and we need to put greater effort into addressing this." During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the ministry will launch the "Four One Hundred" communication and promotion campaign, which includes selecting one hundred recommendation ambassadors for famous Chinese consumer products, producing one hundred micro-documentaries, one hundred AI comic series, and one hundred experience routes. These initiatives are designed to vividly narrate the craftsmanship, quality, and technical processes behind these renowned products.
"Word of mouth from the people matters more than any awards or accolades," Xin Guobin remarked, welcoming consumers to actively participate in sharing the excellence of traditional Chinese culture and continuously enhancing the international visibility and reputation of Chinese consumer brands. Furthermore, the ministry will issue policy documents to support the high-quality development of historically significant industries, accelerate the deep integration of industry, culture, commerce, tourism, and sports, and promote premium consumer goods into government offices, communities, commercial districts, scenic areas, railway stations, and airports. A series of interactive programs, including production observation tours, hands-on crafting experiences, and quality appreciation sessions, will also be introduced to enrich the lifestyle ecosystem with opportunities for viewing, playing, shopping, and leisure.
"The future is bright!" Xin Guobin concluded at the press conference, expressing optimism about the development prospects of the consumer goods industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.