Beijing, China - Aug 18, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press conference in progress, reporters
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce:
"County-level areas make up about 90 percent of China's land area, with 50 percent of its permanent population and 40 percent of its total economic output. The proportion of county- and township-level consumption in total retail sales of consumer goods is steadily increasing, making these markets the most important potential source for expanding consumption."

FILE: Dongkou County, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, central China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. People in shopping mall
4. Various of consumers in supermarket

Beijing, China - Aug 18, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce (partially overlaid with shots 6-9):
"We will try to optimize the county-level business environment. This includes accelerating the upgrading of existing commercial facilities, optimizing the layout of commercial network, improving supporting commercial services, and revitalizing idle resources and assets. We will enhance the efficiency of urban and rural circulation networks, facilitate two-way flow between urban and rural areas, and support the coordinated development of online and offline channels. We will also enrich consumer supply at the county level. This includes encouraging chain enterprises to accelerate their expansion into lower-tier locations, promoting local brands to pursue innovative development while preserving traditions, and developing new business models tailored to local conditions."

++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of people in shopping mall
7. Diners
8. People in flower shop

FILE: Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - March 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of people in makeup store
++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++

FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of customers in meat, vegetable market, at fruit stall
11. Various of customers in supermarket; durians

Beijing, China - Aug 18, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce (starting with shot 11):
"Next, the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to guide local governments in exploring county-level consumption development models that suit local realities, so as to effectively unleash the strong vitality of the lower-tier markets and the huge potential of county-level consumption."

FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
13. Aerial shots of mountains, buildings, residents

FILE: Quxian County, Dazhou City, Sichuan Province, southwest China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
14. Various of saleswoman selling products in livestreaming show

China will take effective measures to further unleash the huge potential of county-level consumption, a Ministry of Commerce official said on Tuesday.

Earlier the same day, the country unveiled a set of measures to further stimulate consumption in lower-tier markets and invigorate county-level consumer spending, according to a guideline jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other government departments.

The guideline calls for upgrading consumption channels in counties, including renovating township commercial centers, rural markets and local fairs, attracting domestic and international brands to open regional debut stores, and encouraging the redevelopment of existing land resources.

At a press conference, Yuan Xiaoming, assistant minister of commerce, highlighted the huge potential of county-level consumption and briefed the media on the measures of the guideline.

"County-level areas make up about 90 percent of China's land area, with 50 percent of its permanent population and 40 percent of its total economic output. The proportion of county- and township-level consumption in total retail sales of consumer goods is steadily increasing, making these markets the most important potential source for expanding consumption," said Yuan.

"We will try to optimize the county-level business environment. This includes accelerating the upgrading of existing commercial facilities, optimizing the layout of commercial network, improving supporting commercial services, and revitalizing idle resources and assets. We will enhance the efficiency of urban and rural circulation networks, facilitate two-way flow between urban and rural areas, and support the coordinated development of online and offline channels. We will also enrich consumer supply at the county level. This includes encouraging chain enterprises to accelerate their expansion into lower-tier locations, promoting local brands to pursue innovative development while preserving traditions, and developing new business models tailored to local conditions," he said.

"Next, the Ministry of Commerce will work with relevant departments to guide local governments in exploring county-level consumption development models that suit local realities, so as to effectively unleash the strong vitality of the lower-tier markets and the huge potential of county-level consumption," he said.

The lower-tier markets generally refer to third-tier and smaller cities, counties, townships and rural areas. These markets have emerged as a key link between urban and rural economies and an important part of the domestic economic cycle.

Official data showed that retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas rose 2.4 percent year on year in the first seven months of 2026, 1.3 percentage points faster than in urban areas. County-and township-level retail sales were estimated to account for nearly 40 percent of the country's total.