China boosts service sector, targets 'China Service' Brands

China is launching a campaign to expand and upgrade its service sector, aiming to build more "China Service" brands, according to a national conference on the service sector held in Beijing from April 7 to 8.

At the conference, Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged policymakers to address three major trends: demographic shifts, upgrading of consumption structures, and industrial transformation.

He added that policy efforts should be made to focus on new growth drivers and making the service sector more digital, standardized, integrated, and globally connected.

The campaign targets two fronts. For producer services, industries that support other businesses, such as logistics, finance, and software, the focus is on specialization and moving up the value chain. For consumer services such as retail, dining, travel, and housing, goals include higher quality, greater variety, and improved accessibility.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted innovation-driven development, along with developing tech‑based services, digital and intelligent services, and further integrating manufacturing with services.

China's service industry has steadily expanded in recent years, playing a vital role in supporting industrial upgrading, improving people's livelihoods, and boosting employment opportunities.

The numbers tell the story. In 2025, China's service sector exceeded 80 trillion yuan ($11 trillion) for the first time, contributing nearly two-thirds of national economic growth. The sector now provides jobs for about half of the country's workforce.

The scale of the service industry is projected to surpass 100 trillion yuan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, said Zheng Shanjie, head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, during this year's Two Sessions.

Following the conference, a series of measures will be introduced to expand capacity, improve quality, and fully unlock the potential for high-quality development in the service sector.