As the Chinese mainland charts its economic course for 2026, expanding domestic demand has been flagged as the top priority, an official from the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs told Xinhua on December 18, 2025.
In the first three quarters of 2025, the Chinese mainland’s domestic demand remained stable and accounted for 71 percent of economic growth, demonstrating the effectiveness of consumption-boosting policies this year, the official said.
To sustain momentum, the Chinese mainland government outlined two key streams for next year: boosting consumption and managing investment.
Key consumption measures for 2026:
- Develop an income growth plan for urban and rural residents, promote high-quality and full employment, and raise basic pensions to bolster purchasing power.
- Expand the supply of high-quality goods and services, cultivate new consumption scenes such as housekeeping services and wellness tourism, and build the 'Buying in China' brand to unlock inbound demand.
Investment management priorities:
- Leverage government funds—including central budgetary investment, ultra-long-term special government bonds, and local government special bonds—to drive major projects.
- Stimulate private investment by encouraging private enterprises to join key infrastructure projects in sectors like railways and nuclear power, and guide capital into high-tech and service industries.
Looking ahead, these policies are likely to resonate beyond the Chinese mainland. Business and tech enthusiasts may uncover new investment channels in high-tech and service sectors, while travelers and digital nomads could explore fresh experiences in wellness tourism. Young global consumers across the G20 stand to benefit from a wider array of high-quality products and services, both domestically and through inbound tourism.
Reference(s):
Expanding domestic demand is a top priority in 2026: Chinese official
cgtn.com
