Tourists buy flowers at Dounan Flower Market during the May Day holiday in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, May 5, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]
In December, the annual Central Economic Work Conference identified boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand across the board as a key priority for economic policy.
The task is not merely a short-term response to economic challenges. It also reflects a broader strategic goal: transforming China from one of the world's largest consumer markets into a truly strong consumer economy.
Achieving that goal will require not only policy support, but also a gradual shift in consumer behavior — from cautious spending toward more confident and self-assured consumption.
China is already one of the world's largest consumer markets. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, the country has maintained its position as the world's second-largest consumer market for years. Yet scale alone does not necessarily translate into strength.
