Vendors get the nod to set up stalls

Hu Min and Li Qian

SHANGHAI’S urban management and law enforcement authorities have given the green light to vendors to set up street stalls to support the economy.

The authorities will support businesses to operate street stalls and conduct refined management on the operation time and scope of such stalls, a notice released by the Shanghai Urban Management and Law Enforcement Bureau states.

The notice also says the authorities will promote the development of a night market economy and guide businesses to conduct strict management of night operations. But the administration will ban random and disorderly establishment of stalls, and operators are required to get prior approval and should operate within designated areas and times.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the importance of stimulating market vitality during his inspection tour of east China’s Shandong Province on Monday and Tuesday.

In front of a grocery store, a stallholder told Li that they all welcome the new policy of allowing them to set up stands as long as traffic is not affected. Li said that if everyone works hard, businesses will survive and grow stronger, and the country will create more space for their development.

Lin Xiaojue, director of Jing’an District Commerce Commission, said: “Many people may think that Jing’an is synonymous with high-end commerce featuring retailing malls.

“We are not restricted to luxury commerce. We have to care more about what people really need in daily life.”