China’s services sector is flexing its digital muscles at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (#CIFTIS), where AI-powered robots serve coffee 🫖, play soccer ⚽, and showcase how tech is rewriting global trade rules. With services now making up over 50% of China’s GDP, experts say this sector could be the country’s next economic supercharger.
From Coffee Bots to $1T Milestones
This year’s CIFTIS isn’t just about flashy tech – it’s where China revealed its services trade volume smashed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in 2024 📈. 'We’re entering an era of high-quality development,' said Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping, noting services trade has grown 6.7% annually since 2012 – outpacing goods trade by 1.7x.
AI: The New Trade Ambassador
From telemedicine to digital education, AI is turning previously 'untradable' services into global commodities. IMF’s Marshall Mills highlighted China’s productivity surge in finance and commerce, while humanoid robots at the fair proved machines can now box 🥊 and brew better than your local barista.
The Road Ahead
China plans to turbocharge sectors like telecoms and cultural services through pilot programs. As Development Research Center’s Long Guoqiang put it: 'Digitalization isn’t just changing trade – it’s creating entirely new economic ecosystems.' 🌱
With 70% of developed economies’ GDP coming from services, China’s push could redefine global economic partnerships. One coffee-serving robot at a time.
