China has released a set of measures to promote the expansion and quality improvement of comprehensive bonded zones, in a bid to spur their high-quality development.

In covering the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, Hainan Province, People's Daily reporter Zhan Huilan has observed how eye-catching products dominated media headlines and drew large crowds. In this video, she explores the deeper logic behind consumer purchasing decisions and the broader trend of consumption upgrading. (Produced by Zhan Huilan, Wang Donghui, Cao Wenxuan, Qiao Wai, Di Jingyuan and interns Wang Yiwen and Han Yuxin; cover image by Chu Chu)

Economic growth in the MENAP region (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) is projected to slow to 1.4 percent in 2026 due to regional conflict, a downgrade of 2.3 percentage points from October 2025 projections, according to an IMF report released on Thursday.

Amid lingering global geopolitical conflicts, rising protectionism and sluggish economic recovery, the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off in Haikou, Hainan Province, on April 13.

Fewer German companies are investing in the US due to the US administration's trade tariffs and focus is shifting to China and other Asian countries, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing a survey by German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK).

The on-going 6th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou is more than a showcase of goods — it offers a window to observe the evolving dynamics of China's consumer market and its emergence as a "world's market".