China service trade expands through digital and knowledge-intensive sectors

China is experiencing a rapid structural shift in its trade landscape, with service and digital intangible trade growing significantly faster than traditional goods trade. Driven by digitalization, knowledge-intensive sectors such as telecommunications, computing, and information services are leading this expansion. In the first seven months of 2025, China's service import and export total reached 808.23 billion yuan, with exports growing by 14.2%.

The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing highlighted this trend, featuring 90 countries and international organizations. The event showcased how Chinese technological solutions—ranging from AI and smart energy to agricultural machinery systems—are being exported globally to markets in Brazil, Australia, and Indonesia.

To support this growth, China is implementing policies to expand high-quality service imports and encourage knowledge-intensive exports. This includes opening more sectors to foreign investment, such as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and foreign-invested hospitals, while fostering domestic innovation in digital culture and smart technology.