The World Consumer Rights Day that we observe together today is more than a day of action to address growing consumer grievances. It is also high time for Chinese policymakers to recognize the increasing importance of domestic consumption to the country's sustainable economic growth.

If, as expected, Chinese consumers are to play a leading role in fueling economic growth, more government efforts to promote and protect the basic rights of all consumers are badly needed.

With the rapid expansion of domestic consumer markets, Chinese consumers contributed 4.6 percentage points to the country's 8.7-percent GDP growth last year - despite the worst global recession in decades.

For instance, huge growth in consumer car purchases rendered China the world's largest auto market much sooner than expected.

The great potential of this market means local consumers deserve the same respect and protections enjoyed in developed countries.

However, to further develop the domestic consumer market, protection of consumer rights should no longer focus on addressing specific grievances about product quality. It is equally important to monitor market abuse and other social injustices that undermine consumer rights.

On the one hand, the monopoly by domestic or multinational enterprises in some sectors requires better government regulation to defend the rights of consumers.

On the other hand, some consumption-related policies like the current personal income tax baseline as well as import tariffs should also be reviewed in a timely fashion and readjusted in line with the welfare of consumers.

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