This is the fifth consecutive year that the “Understanding the Situation” special feature has been launched. Every year during the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress and CPPCC sessions, the top leaders of municipal bureaus, commissions, and offices are invited to review the past and look to the future. Over the past five years, Guangzhou has achieved leapfrog breakthroughs by leveraging the “dual engines” of industry and innovation. This year, as the opening year of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” it is crucial to build upon the achievements of the “14th Five-Year Plan” and make a good start for the next five years. The newly released 2026 Guangzhou Municipal Government Work Report, focusing on the main goals of economic and social development during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, outlines ten key tasks, including deeply exploring the potential of domestic and foreign demand and accelerating the construction of the “12218” modern industrial system. “Understanding the Situation” invited twenty top leaders of municipal bureaus, commissions, and offices to interpret the new situation in Guangzhou in 2026 and to look ahead to the expected goals and paths for achieving the “15th Five-Year Plan.” The construction of an international consumption center city and the high-quality development of foreign trade are key supports for Guangzhou’s steady economic progress. Wei Min, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, gave an exclusive interview to discuss actions to promote high-quality development of commerce.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Guangzhou’s commerce will focus on the “6 + 4” urban characteristics and core functions, prioritizing the enhancement of its international business center functions, promoting the construction of an international consumption center, international trade center, international convention and exhibition center, and international industrial chain and supply chain center, enhancing the level of its open economy, and contributing commercial strength to Guangzhou’s high-quality development.
Consumption Quality Improvement: “Eight New Scenic Spots of Guangzhou Consumption” Ignite a New Wave
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Guangzhou’s consumption expansion and upgrading have achieved remarkable results. It was approved as one of the first cities to cultivate and build an international consumption center, with total retail sales increasing by approximately 26% over five years, and is projected to grow by 5.5% in 2025.
The city innovatively launched the “Eight New Scenic Spots of Guangzhou Consumption” IP, holding over 2,000 themed events; it strengthened the trade-in program for consumer goods, launched the Guangdong Premium Products Shopping Campaign, driving sales of over 90 billion yuan and benefiting over 9.1 million people; it obtained approval for several national-level pilot projects, improved its business district system, and increased the number of tax-refund stores to 1,620. In 2026, a special action to boost consumption will be implemented in depth. First, it will enrich the supply of consumer goods, optimize the “Eight New Scenic Spots of Guangzhou Consumption” IP, organize various consumption promotion activities, conduct city gift selection, support the development of time-honored brands, release policy dividends, and promote the transformation and upgrading of the wholesale industry. Second, it will innovate consumption scenarios, accelerate the construction of major projects, support the creation of national-level demonstration business districts, build distinctive shopping towns, and organize first-launch events. Third, it will optimize the consumption environment, conduct national-level pilot projects, expand the scope of tax-refund stores, and strengthen business integrity.
Foreign Trade Efficiency Improvement: Exports of “New Three Products” Increase by Nearly 70%
In 2025, Guangzhou’s foreign trade bucked the trend and rose, with imports and exports reaching a new level of 1.2 trillion yuan, an estimated increase of 10.4%. Imports and exports to non-US markets increased by 17.3%, with a net increase of 150.2 billion yuan. New business models such as cross-border e-commerce are booming, and exports of “new three products” have surged by nearly 70%.
In 2026, five key measures will be taken to promote high-quality development of foreign trade. First, cultivate diversified markets, expand non-US markets, organize enterprises to participate in exhibitions, hold procurement matchmaking activities, and explore emerging markets. Second, strengthen the leading role of leading enterprises, support the expansion of platform enterprises, improve air import services, and promote cross-border supply chain financial services.
Third, we will expand new forms of foreign trade, implement three major initiatives, develop cross-border e-commerce, and promote related construction, striving to build a demonstration zone. Fourth, we will promote the export of new-quality productive products, help brands go global, build an automobile export base, and promote the growth of related product exports. Fifth, we will improve the quality of imports, strengthen the import trade innovation demonstration zone and platform, and promote the implementation of characteristic projects.
Opening Upgrade: Leading High-Quality Development with Institutional Opening Up
In recent years, Guangzhou has continuously advanced its high-level opening up, promoted the national comprehensive pilot program for expanding the opening up of the service industry, built an opening-up platform, carried out the national smart port pilot construction, and enhanced its global connectivity capabilities.
Next, we will launch more “small-scale” reforms. First, we will use platform innovation as an engine, focusing on Nansha, to promote alignment with Hong Kong and Macao rules, deepen the pilot program for expanding the opening up of the service industry 2.0, promote the expansion and quality improvement of the free trade zone, and strengthen cooperation with Hainan. Second, we will use port upgrading as support, promote the digital port and digital trade hub project, and optimize the port business environment.
Third, leveraging the exhibition and convention economy as a link and taking advantage of the 70th anniversary of the Canton Fair, we will create a “one industry, one exhibition” brand, promote the integration of exhibitions and conventions with multiple fields, and advance legislation for the exhibition and convention industry.
