CHINA TOPIX

12/22/2024 10:15:19 pm

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Cultural Goods Continue to Fuel China’s Economy; Country Remains Top Exporter of Said Products

China Economy

(Photo : Feng Li/Getty Images) The gold jewelry are shown at Caishikou Department Store, the capital's largest gold jewelry, accessories and decorations retail store, on Sept. 4, 2011 in Beijing, China.

Cultural goods from China have continued to boost its economy as the country has been touted as the top exporter of such products.

According to China Daily, among China's goods that are included in this category are gold jewelry, art like statues and paintings, crafts like pottery and chinaware, music, dance, cinematographic products, travel, sports, education, entertainment and handicraft (wood-craft, artisans' creations, handloom cloth, metal art).

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Based on the data of the Ministry of Culture, the present actual consumption level for cultural goods and services is pegged at about one trillion yuan. However, this may even reach 4.7 trillion in the future.

Meanwhile, as of 2013, China was able to export $60.1 billion worth of cultural goods, which was more than 100 percent higher than the $27.9 billion recorded by the United States, an indication of its strong economy.

With competitors like Turkey, India and Malaysia, which have emerged as well as leading cultural goods exporters, the Chinese government has implemented measures and strategies that further the growth of the industry.

As the country released its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), China has reportedly positioned the cultural industry as a "key pillar of the national economy."

It was pointed out, though, that the country needs to address a certain limitation.

"China lacks major cultural enterprises with brand impact and original designs," China Research Center for Foreign Direct Investment director at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing Lu Jinyong said. "A large part of exports of cultural products comes from processing trades, without much independent research and development ."

"Although the number of domestic cultural companies rose in recent years, the market penetration level is low," Lu added. "This also shows a large gap between China and developed countries."

Therefore, Lu said, China has a "significant potential for growth," particularly its economy. 

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