Service sector driving high-quality growth

The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, the world’s largest auto show, was a testament to the rapid internationalization and quality upgrade of China’s service sector, and compelling evidence of how China pursues high-quality development through innovation and openness.

With automakers from 21 countries and regions displaying more than 1,400 vehicles, the industry showcase, held from April 24 to May 3, highlighted China’s role as a competitive player in electric vehicles and the transition of some global brands from “in China, for China” to “in China, for the world” as they deepen cooperation with local partners and leverage China’s supply chain to optimize global production and sales. The mutual learning and co-evolution of Chinese and foreign companies in the Chinese market demonstrate that openness is two-way empowerment.

The event also offered the world a window through which to observe the development of China’s convention and exhibition economy, a vital and integral part of the broader service trade industry.

Take the capital city as an example. With the construction of high-capacity, smart and green venues, Beijing’s exhibition industry has become a key driver of the local economy. From automotive shows to energy storage expos and medical health fairs, the theme of the city’s exhibition calendar is becoming increasingly innovative, intelligent and sustainable, reflecting its efforts to build itself into a globally influential convention and exhibition hub.

Shortly after the annual gatherings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body in March, the State Council, the country’s Cabinet, has twice specifically emphasized the development of the service industry in its meetings, sending a clear signal that the service industry is an important part of the modern industrial system, relating to the overall high-quality development and modernization.

The policymakers have unambiguously stated the need to actively plan and promote the expansion and improvement of the service industry.

In April, China held its first national conference on the service sector, which called for fostering new growth points, enhancing the digital and intelligent transformation of the sector, strengthening producer and consumer services, and cultivating more “China Services” brands, while also promoting broader opening-up of the service industry.

These pragmatic policy signals underscore a recognition that as China’s economy transitions from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development, modern services should play a major role in driving innovation, employment and consumption.

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2025, the added value of China’s service sector exceeded 80 trillion yuan ($11.65 trillion), accounting for 57.7 percent of GDP and contributing 61.4 percent to economic growth. The industry also provided around half of the country’s jobs and accounted for 46.1 percent of per capita spending by urban and rural residents, making it a key engine for expanding domestic demand.

China’s expansion of its service sector also provides numerous shared opportunities and benefits for the world at large. The country’s industry, economy and market will continue to contribute to global growth and certainty in the process. Instead of clinging to the zero-sum game mentality peddled by some naysayers of the Chinese economy, a pragmatic choice for multinational corporations is to embrace the opportunities presented by the superlarge Chinese market and foster win-win cooperation.

The service industry is the cornerstone of a thriving economy, serving as a barometer of a nation’s development stage and a driver of global competitiveness. And China’s thriving exhibition industry is a prime example of how the service sector is driving the country’s high-quality economic growth.

Editorial, China Daily