Recently, China has implemented measures to advance the building of a unified national market, aiming to boost domestic demand and consolidate the foundations of its economic recovery.

In March 2022, the Chinese government issued a guideline on accelerating the construction of a unified national market. The issue was also a focus at the annual Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing this month, where proposals to expedite the building of a unified domestic market were made. The repeated emphasis on this initiative underscores its importance to China's economic development.

A unified national market is a hallmark of a major economy. China, as a country with a population of 1.4 billion people, has great potential when it comes to its large consumer market. However, problems and obstacles still impede the full realization of its market advantages.

As China has developed, its coastal regions have grown faster than inland areas, influenced by its export-oriented economic structure. This disparity has led to the emergence of prosperous urban hubs, such as the Yangtze River Delta region, the Pearl River Delta region and Fujian. These areas significantly contribute to China's economic development, as well as its consumer culture.

However, for China to maintain forward momentum, it's crucial that the market is not disproportionately skewed in favor of certain regions, but is spread out equally throughout the entire nation. Therefore, continued domestic growth, especially amid uncertain geopolitical conditions, depends on the consolidation and unification of the national market.

Moreover, local protectionism and market segmentation have also hindered the free flow of production factors, such as population, capital and land. Addressing these issues is essential to ensure an equitable market environment and a fully accessible market. This approach will foster new opportunities for inter-regional business transactions and ultimately support the country's growth and development.

Several actions can help accelerate the development of the unified national market. These include sustaining and expanding the local supply chain, enhancing opportunities for domestic tourism and travel, supporting the retail and consumption industries' expansion across other regions of China, and creating a more favorable and open environment for foreign investment in consumer-related sectors. When looked at in this light, the Chinese market continues to offer a wealth of international opportunities.

China's efforts to build a unified national market will significantly affect the global economy. It will provide immense opportunities for other countries as the world's largest import market, continuing to drive economic growth worldwide. In this context, more companies will have greater opportunities to access the Chinese market, especially in sectors like foodstuffs, commodities, automobiles, and luxury goods.

China is transitioning from a low-end export economy to a high-end one, while also evolving into a consumer economy. Creating a unified national market will play a crucial role in this transformation, promoting prosperity and growth both within the country and the world at large.

Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities.