Policy support set to boost consumption
Over the next decade, China may add more consumption than any other country, and is expected to generate more than one quarter of the total global consumption growth, according to projection by global management consulting firm McKinsey& Company.
By 2035, the population of China's middle-income group will likely surpass 700 million, up from the current size of about 400 million, which will provide a strong base for the Chinese consumer market to grow substantially, according to a report by the Development Research Center of the State Council.
US investment bank Morgan Stanley has forecast in a report that China's private consumption is likely to reach about $12.7 trillion by 2030, making the country a global consumption powerhouse and matching the size of the current US market.
The further expansion of China's consumer market will help promote the country's greater integration with global markets and bring changes in international trade as upgraded demand of Chinese consumers will mean more imports, experts said.
Meanwhile, thriving private consumption in China will also spur shifts in global supply chains, as there will be a greater incentive for foreign companies to move their manufacturing and production operations to China to be closer to the consumers who are at the forefront of technology adoption, demographic shifts and new purchasing behavior, they said.
Josie Zhang, president of British luxury brand Burberry in China, said that China's expanding consumer market is one of the world's most important markets and remains highly dynamic. The country's high-level opening-up continues to provide the world a chance to share the potential and opportunities of the Chinese market, and will play a meaningful role in driving the recovery and growth of the world economy.
"They (Chinese consumers) are digitally savvy and more eco-conscious than ever before. They are also increasingly turning to innovative products and culturally relevant experiences. All these bring development and growth opportunities for the industry," Zhang said.