Shanghai's Yangshan Deep-Water Port on January 1, 2025. Photo: VCG

A number of economic powerhouse provinces have announced plans to get the economy off to a good start in the first quarter, with supportive measures covering consumption, investment and an improved business environment.

East China's Fujian Province rolled out 24 measures to implement the central government's incremental policies and consolidate growth momentum, officials said at a press conference at the Information Office of the Fujian Provincial People's Government on Tuesday.

In particular, the province will tap the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year to bolster consumption, offering 10 million yuan ($1.36 million) of catering vouchers and 30 million yuan of car purchasing vouchers from a designated provincial fund, according to a notice issued by the Fujian provincial government.

Local authorities in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality proposed an action plan to ensure the municipality's industries get off to a good start, with moves aimed at boosting local automobile output, attracting leading consumer electronic brands to place more orders for components with the city's plants and rolling out more popular agriculture and food products, the Chongqing Daily reported on Monday.

Central China's Henan Province announced on Monday the issuance of 200 million yuan of Spring Festival consumption vouchers targeting the retail, dining, cultural tourism and accommodation sectors.

Sun Chuanwang, a professor at Xiamen University in Fujian Province, told the Global Times on Tuesday that localities' focus on consumption and investment in the first quarter will help drive year-long economic growth.

A consumption spending boost during the Spring Festival holidays will raise demand for a wide range of upstream and downstream industries and beef up confidence, creating more upward momentum in the market, Sun said, noting that investment in key projects and emerging industries will help form the roots of the full-year economy with the nurturing of fast-growth points.

The Central Economic Work Conference held in December outlined clear policy directions, putting a consumption boost at the top of the agenda in 2025.

Last year, the government's incremental policies delivered notable results. The Ministry of Commerce said that a trade-in program for consumer goods had driven more than 1 trillion yuan in sales as of December 13, 2024.

In 2025, the Chinese government plans to expand the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds to support the implementation of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, Yuan Da, a deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference on Friday.

The government will broaden the range of areas eligible for funding, and consumers will receive subsidies to purchase three categories of digital products: mobile phones, tablets and smart watches or wristbands, said Yuan.

Li Chang'an, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday that efforts aimed at gaining a head start in the first quarter in 2025 are of special significance in ensuring market confidence and stabilizing and uplifting expectations.

Li said that as economic work requires continued efforts, overall and reasonable planning is needed so that more success will follow after the good start in the first quarter.