Ministry stresses logistics, consumption

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Saturday that it will put emphasis on raising logistics efficiency and expanding domestic consumption next year.

"Implementing policies to promote the country's logistics development will be one of the ministry's major tasks next year," Deputy Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said at the closing ceremony of a two-day national commercial work conference concluding Saturday.

The ministry will accelerate the development of modern logistics in an effort to safeguard the proper market functioning in 2013, according to a statement on the ministry's website.

On Wednesday, the State Council, or China's cabinet, announced a range of measures to lower logistics costs and improve logistics efficiency, including cheaper electricity and water for agricultural product processing and circulation and lower fees at farm produce markets.

The MOC said it will also improve the system for promoting domestic consumption and nurture new sources for consumption growth.

It will guide popular consumption choices including credit consumption and online consumption, advocate green and cyclical consumption, as well as safeguard the safety of consumption.