The Ministry of Commerce and five other departments recently issued a notice on the issuance of the "Action Plan for Urban Commercial Quality Improvement" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan requires that, in combination with the continuous promotion of urban renewal, the implementation of urban commercial quality improvement actions, the construction of a city commercial system led by national demonstration pedestrian streets (commercial districts), supported by characteristic commercial blocks, and based on a 15 minute convenient living circle, with reasonable layout, complete facilities, rich formats, high-quality supply, safety and convenience, stimulate the endogenous driving force of urban commercial development, release diversified and differentiated consumption potential, and help promote high-quality economic development. The Plan proposes 21 main tasks from seven aspects, including improving the urban commercial layout system, promoting the upgrading of urban commercial formats, enriching the supply of high-quality goods and services, and strengthening the guarantee of urban commercial operation. At a special press conference held on October 29th, Zhang Xiang, a first level inspector of the Circulation Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce, introduced that the "Plan" has four main characteristics, which are reflected in the "four integrations": integrating commercial development with urban construction, integrating commercial development with the needs of the people for a better life, integrating commercial development with urban operation, and integrating commercial development with open communication. Zhang Xiang stated that in response to the problem of unbalanced and insufficient layout of urban commercial facilities, the "Plan" requires all regions to determine the scale of urban commercial facility supply based on various factors such as economic level, industrial structure, total population, consumer demand, and development direction, scientifically plan and layout urban commercial outlets, clarify the "roadmap" for urban commercial development, and effectively connect with the overall planning of urban land space, special planning for urban renewal, transportation planning, etc., to achieve coordinated planning, deployment, and promotion. The Plan proposes to promote the high-quality development of pedestrian streets (commercial districts). Fully leverage the role of pedestrian streets (commercial districts) in leading and driving the construction of urban commercial systems, creating a carrier for consumption upgrading, a business card for urban image, and a window for opening up to the outside world. Carry out the creation of national demonstration pedestrian streets (commercial districts), combined with urban renewal, promote the renovation of existing pedestrian street (commercial district) facilities and upgrading of business formats through "one street, one strategy" and "one circle, one strategy", promote the aggregation of high-quality brands, new business formats, new models and new scenes at home and abroad, optimize the business and consumption environment, and create a number of national demonstration pedestrian streets (commercial districts) based locally, radiating across the country and facing the world. In recent years, the Ministry of Commerce has been deeply implementing the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, confirming 19 national demonstration pedestrian streets and 20 national demonstration smart commercial districts, promoting the renovation of existing pedestrian street (commercial district) facilities and upgrading of business formats, seizing the "small incision" in the development of pedestrian streets (commercial districts), and doing a good job in the "big article" of high-quality economic development. Data shows that by 2024, the national demonstration pedestrian streets (commercial districts) will achieve a total passenger flow of over 400 billion people, a turnover of over 500 billion yuan, and create over 800000 job opportunities. During the just passed National Day and Mid Autumn Festival holidays, the passenger flow and revenue of national demonstration pedestrian streets (commercial districts) increased by 8.8% and 6.0% respectively year-on-year, providing strong support for promoting consumption, expanding domestic demand, and stabilizing employment in various regions. Next, the Ministry of Commerce will strengthen work guidance, select the best and dynamically manage, steadily and orderly promote the demonstration and creation of national pedestrian streets (commercial districts), and turn pedestrian streets (commercial districts) into "reception rooms" for local residents, "check-in places" for out of town tourists, and "new windows" for international tourists to understand China. ”Zhang Xiang said. The urban commercial system is an important carrier for implementing urban renewal actions, optimizing urban structure, improving urban functions, and enhancing urban quality. Zhang Yan, Deputy Director of the Department of Building Energy Conservation and Technology of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, stated that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development will work together with the Ministry of Commerce and other departments to implement the urban renewal action. From the aspects of planning, construction, and management, they will collaborate to build a reasonably laid out, well-equipped, diverse, high-quality, safe, and convenient urban commercial system, empowering high-quality urban development. The Plan further focuses on the integration of culture, tourism, and commerce, and proposes multiple specific measures to promote the integrated development of culture, tourism, and business. Zhao Jianjun, a second level inspector of the Industry Development Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, introduced that in the next step, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will promote related work from three aspects: promoting the empowerment of urban renewal by the cultural and tourism industry, promoting the revitalization of cultural, commercial, and tourism integration carriers, and supporting the innovation of the cultural, commercial, and tourism industry. Regarding how to better implement the 'Plan', Zhang Xiang stated that in the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to optimize public services, regulate market order, coordinate the use of relevant funds and policy tools to strengthen support for the construction of urban commercial systems, and provide solid and powerful guarantees for the implementation and refinement of the 'Plan'. (New Society)