Key facts
- China has introduced 20 measures to support its struggling physical retail sector.
- The initiative aims to make stores more immersive and competitive against e-commerce.
- The guidelines encourage overhauling business models and expanding private-label offerings.
- The plan seeks to build a modern, smart, and competitive retail system by 2030.
China has unveiled 20 measures to support its struggling brick-and-mortar retail sector, urging stores to overhaul business models, expand private-label offerings, and push back against unfair competition from e-commerce platforms. The guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other government agencies, underscore Beijing’s effort to revive physical retail amid weak consumer demand, intense online competition, and shifting shopping habits. The plan aims to build a modern, smart, and competitive retail system by 2030.