China aims to spur consumption in first five-year blueprint

The plan also calls for stronger tourism-related spending, an expansion of visa-free entry to more countries, and more direct international flights to Europe, the U.S. and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

China’s services spending has outpaced goods consumption growth in recent years but still lags far behind developed economies. Per capita services consumption accounted for 46.1% of total consumption in 2025, well below the roughly 70% seen in the United States.

Some government economists have called for long-promised income and welfare reforms, as the economy faces a deepening imbalance between strong industrial output — supported by exports — and weak domestic consumption.

The plan said China's social security system would become more "optimised and sustainable," giving people greater confidence to spend and more stable expectations.