China is stepping up efforts to boost domestic spending and U.S. retail giant Walmart is expanding across the country to meet demand.
A new Sam’s Club recently opened in Jiangsu Province in eastern China. Two more stores are set to launch in Shandong Province in May, while a second location is under construction in Liaoning Province in the north-east. The timing is no coincidence.
For years, China’s economy relied on exports and large-scale infrastructure investment. This year’s official work report (the document that sets the country’s economic priorities) placed “building a robust domestic market” first on the list for 2026.
The directive calls for upgrading consumer services, creating new shopping experiences, and actively expanding new areas of consumer spending.
The numbers suggest Walmart is already benefiting. The company reported net sales of $6.1 billion in China in its most recent quarter, up more than 19 per cent year-on-year.
Online sales rose 28 per cent and now account for more than half of total revenue in the market, highlighting how thoroughly e-commerce and physical retail have merged in China. Shoppers routinely order in-store products via apps and expect delivery within the hour.
Local governments are keen to be part of the expansion. Officials in provinces where new Walmart stores are opening have expressed hopes for deeper supply chain ties, greater procurement of locally made goods, and access to Walmart’s global retail network.
Authorities in Jinan, where one of the new Shandong stores is being built, project the site will generate roughly 1.5 billion yuan in annual sales and around 45 million yuan in tax revenue each year.
However, growth in consumer spending remains steady rather than rapid. Chinese households, still affected by years of economic uncertainty, are not rushing to increase spending.
A government directive can set direction, but it cannot manufacture confidence overnight.
Still, the alignment of interests is notable. Beijing wants stronger consumption, local officials want investment, and Walmart is seeking growth in one of the few major markets where it still has significant room to expand.
For now, all three are moving in the same direction.
A drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, officials said on Sunday, with ...
As cities increasingly take on greater geopolitical significance amidst conflicts, climate change and shifting ...
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, mark...
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran ...
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the of...
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
As cities increasingly take on greater geopolitical significance amidst conflicts, climate change and shifting global alliances, discussions at the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan have gone beyond architecture and urban development according to a political analyst.
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
Government bond markets from Tokyo to New York extended losses on Monday (18 May) as rising energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict heightened inflation concerns and reinforced expectations that major central banks could keep interest rates higher for longer.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
At least eight people have died and 32 others were injured after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok on Saturday (16 May), triggering a fire that quickly spread through the vehicle.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said plans to strengthen frontline units on the border with South Korea, as well as other major units, were key to "more thoroughly deterring war," state media KCNA reported on Monday.
China will address U.S. concerns about rare earth shortages, the White House said on Sunday in a recap of agreements struck at last week's leaders summit that fell short of calling for the removal of restrictions that have disrupted U.S. aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing.
Samsung Electronics and its labour union commenced high-stakes talks on Monday (18 May) in a last-ditch bid to avert what would be the biggest strike in the tech giant's history.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment