The 2026 Government Work Report identifies the development of a strong domestic market as the top priority for China's economic agenda this year. At a time when the global economy is undergoing profound changes, rising unilateralism, increasing trade protectionism and persistent geopolitical uncertainties are creating greater instability for external demand.
Against this backdrop, expanding domestic demand has become a strategic anchor for China's economic resilience. The report stresses the need to expand domestic circulation and strengthen the internal drivers of growth in order to better withstand external shocks.
Within this framework, effective investment plays a central role in building a strong domestic market. The Government Work Report calls for coordinated efforts to boost consumption and expand investment, while emphasizing the need to fully unlock the potential of effective investment and leverage China's ultra-large market advantages.
As one of the two key components of domestic demand, alongside consumption, investment remains equally important for sustaining long-term growth.
In China's economic development model, consumption represents the ultimate goal, while investment serves as an essential means to achieve it. The people-centered nature of economic growth is reflected in the continuous expansion of consumption, which remains a top policy priority in efforts to expand domestic demand.
