Ministry: Trade in services a key priority this year

China pledged to step up support measures for trade in services as the world's second-largest economy tries to shift its economic growth model toward consumption and away from heavy reliance on investment and exports, senior officials said on Monday.

"The near future will be a very important period," said Zhou Liujun, director-general of the department of trade in services and commercial services at the Ministry of Commerce.

While foreign trade in goods refers to shipment of commodities, trade in services points to the export and import of intangible products, such as tourism, financial services and telecommunications services. China was the world's biggest goods trader and third-largest trader in services in 2013, with goods trade accounting for 11 percent of the world's total and that of services 6 percent of the world's total. Trade in services have outstripped goods trade in recent years.