CHINA’S top economic planner yesterday rolled out a slew of measures to boost consumption amid efforts to sustain economic recovery and promote high-quality development.

The country vowed to spur consumption of a wide range of items and services, including new energy vehicles (NEVs), home appliances, electronics, catering, cultural and tourism sectors, as well as that in rural areas. It also pledged to support demand for essential housing and improved living, according to a notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Local authorities should not unveil new measures to restrict auto purchasing, while regions that have already had restrictive measures on auto purchasing should improve these measures in order to adapt to local conditions, the NDRC said in the notice.

Efforts should be made to build high-quality charging infrastructure, promote the use of NEVs in rural areas, and maintain and improve the favorable tax incentives for NEV purchasing, according to the notice.

The State economic planner also pushed for sales of home appliances by rolling out trade-ins and the recycling of used home appliances, the notice said.

It said these measures, having been approved by the State Council, aimed at better implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand, giving full play to the fundamental role of consumption in stimulating economic growth, and sustaining the country’s high-quality development.

“Boosting consumption is the key in stimulating recovery and expanding demand,” Li Chunlin, deputy director of the NDRC, said at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.

Officials from four other central agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, also said at the press conference that they would roll out specific measures to support their respective industries.

They include increasing consumer loans to encourage car purchases, building more EV charging facilities, building more affordable homes for young people, supporting the consumption of wearable devices and smart products, and encouraging local governments to hold food, music, and sports festivals to attract tourists.

(SD-Xinhua)