Publicado · Chile
China’s Nine-Department Plan to Boost Technology-Driven Commerce: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
China’s Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments issued an opinion on accelerating technology-driven commerce. The plan covers AI, smart supply chains, digital infrastructure, and green commerce—key areas for foreign founders operating in China.
China’s Nine-Department Plan to Boost Technology-Driven Commerce
China’s Ministry of Commerce, together with eight other government departments, has released an opinion on accelerating technology-driven commerce (科技兴商). The document outlines how technology should support commercial innovation and help build a strong domestic market. For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, the plan signals policy priorities and potential opportunities in retail, logistics, e-commerce, and related services.
Background and Objectives
The opinion implements decisions on developing new quality productive forces, building a modern industrial system, and expanding domestic demand. It also aligns with the 15th Five-Year Plan. The guiding principles include high-quality development, technological innovation, and meeting people’s growing needs. The plan promotes smarter, greener, and more integrated commerce across the entire supply chain, using technologies such as AI, big data, IoT, cloud computing, blockchain, digital twins, and embodied intelligence.
Key Measures Affecting Foreign Businesses
1. Upgrading Product Supply
The plan calls for deeper integration of AI in product R&D, design, manufacturing, and marketing. It encourages smart products such as smartphones, computers, home appliances, wearables, and robots. It also supports products based on secure, reliable open-source operating systems. Traditional industries and time-honored brands are encouraged to innovate using modern production technologies. Technology-enabled agriculture will be developed to improve quality and efficiency of agricultural products.
2. Matching Supply and Demand
Flexible manufacturing is promoted, including the use of industrial large models and edge intelligence to build adaptive production systems. New models like on-demand production and consumer-to-manufacturer (C2M) are encouraged. AI-based personalized customization will be developed, nurturing influential customization brands.
3. Boosting Market Vitality
Exhibitions such as the China International Consumer Products Expo (消博会), Global Digital Trade Expo (数贸会), and China Agricultural Trade Fair (农交会) will serve as platforms for showcasing and trading technological achievements. The plan also aims to extend smart consumption facilities and services to county-level areas, activating lower-tier markets.
4. Improving Basic Services
Innovative home services models are supported, including cooperation between home service companies and tech firms to build smart platforms. Catering digitalization will be accelerated with typical cases published. AI applications in health management, pharmaceutical services, and rehabilitation care will be explored where conditions permit. Smart elderly care and childcare services will be developed.
5. Expanding Upgraded Services
The national smart education platform will be upgraded to open quality educational resources. Pilot AI applications in culture and tourism will be carried out, integrating AI with extended reality to develop distinctive cultural tourism products. The “Data Element × Sports” initiative will promote immersive and interactive sports consumption. Convenient TV terminals will be popularized.
6. Enhancing Personalized Services
Technology for good will be emphasized, fostering healthy and standardized intelligent services such as companion robots and virtual digital humans. Ultra-high-definition audiovisual technology will be industrialized and applied in shopping districts, entertainment, tourism, and education. AI and digital twins will optimize IP development in culture, tourism, sports, and traditional industries.
7. Making Supply Chains Smarter
A special action for digital and intelligent supply chains will deepen IoT, cloud computing, and blockchain integration. Smart warehouses, intelligent logistics equipment, and unmanned delivery will be promoted. Green supply chains will be developed, including green technology, procurement, products, and packaging. Leading digital supply chain enterprises will be nurtured to empower SMEs.
8. Digital Upgrading of Wholesale and Retail
Wholesale and industrial digitalization will be coordinated, promoting online-offline integration. Agricultural wholesale markets will undergo digital transformation. A retail innovation project will be implemented. Enterprises are encouraged to use digital technology to optimize store layout, inventory management, logistics, anti-counterfeiting, and after-sales service.
9. Quality E-commerce Ecosystem
A quality e-commerce cultivation action will promote “inspect first, then ship” models. Quality standards, inspection, and brand building for online goods in key areas like home appliances, home furnishings, and electronics will be strengthened. Mandatory product certification (CCC) will be verified online, and pilot reforms for CCC traceability QR codes will be advanced.
10. Intelligent Scenarios
New business forms like commercial intelligent agents will be cultivated, including smart shopping guides, operations, and logistics. Embodied intelligence will be applied in commerce, expanding to home services and logistics. Cloud shopping and cloud exhibitions will be developed, supported by digital twin technologies.
11. Green Scenarios
Green and low-carbon business models will be developed. Enterprises are supported to use blockchain for product carbon footprint calculation. Advanced biofuels, bio-based materials, and biodegradable plastics will be promoted. Green shopping malls, restaurants, and logistics parks will be piloted. Smart upgrades for second-hand goods circulation and recycling will be advanced.
12. Integrated Scenarios
Pilot programs for new consumption formats will integrate virtual reality and digital twins in entertainment, tourism, health, and sports. Integrated consumption scenarios combining commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and health will be built. Localities will focus on pedestrian streets, shopping districts, and tourist attractions to create digital-physical integrated consumption scenes.
13. Standards System
National standards for AI terminal intelligence grading will be promoted, and a unified standards system covering various terminal forms will be built. A standards upgrading action in commerce will be implemented, along with national standardization pilots.
14. Digital Infrastructure
Commercial infrastructure will be upgraded, accelerating industrial internet and cloud computing applications in commerce. An AI startup support plan for SMEs will be deepened, with inclusive computing power for AI startups in commerce. High-quality datasets and trusted data spaces will be established to integrate commercial and public data.
15. Safety and Regulation
Graded governance for commercial intelligent agents will be carried out prudently. Boundaries for data collection, use, and sharing will be clarified. A negative list for data applications may be explored. A data security risk monitoring and early warning system will be built. Inclusive and prudent regulation will allow stress testing and sandbox pilots for new technologies within controlled limits.
16. R&D and Application
Key technologies in new displays and smart terminals will be developed. Commercial technology application innovation centers will be cultivated. Technology transfer institutions in consumer goods will be built to accelerate market conversion of frontier achievements like brain-computer interfaces and embodied intelligence. Commercial enterprises in smart warehousing and digital supply chains are supported to apply for specialized and sophisticated enterprise status.
17. Talent Development
Interdisciplinary talent in commercial technology will be trained. Universities, research institutes, and vocational schools are supported to build training bases with commercial enterprises. City-level industry-education consortia and leading enterprise-led integration communities will be encouraged. New occupations such as logistics robot application technology and intelligent system management will be promoted.
18. Financial Support
Existing funding channels will be used to promote emerging technologies in consumption. Financial institutions are encouraged to increase support for new consumption scenarios and provide diverse financial products. Support for technological upgrading and equipment renewal in commercial facilities will be increased.
Implications for Foreign Founders
Foreign founders should note that the plan emphasizes AI, digital supply chains, and green commerce. Companies in smart retail, e-commerce, logistics technology, and related services may find alignment with policy directions. The plan also mentions support for SMEs, including AI startups, and encourages industry-education collaboration. While the document does not specify direct incentives for foreign firms, it indicates a regulatory and infrastructural environment that could benefit technology-driven businesses.
When registering a company in China, foreign founders should consider how their business activities fit within these priority areas. Engaging with local commerce departments and industry associations may provide further guidance. The plan calls for local authorities to strengthen organization and coordination, and for the Ministry of Commerce to promote typical experiences.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Next Steps
Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.