Traditional shops must boost their online links

Retail sector being increasingly driven by e-commerce customers as bricks-and-mortar stores feel the heat amid changing shopping habits

The government has issued a set of new policies to urge traditional retailers to strengthen their links with e-commerce sites, logistics companies, and finance and telecommunications operators, as online shopping sites have become a growing force in China's retail sector.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, said e-commerce operators and bricks-and-mortar shops could integrate market resources and combine their advantages by cross shareholding, mergers and acquisitions and other forms of strategic cooperation, according to the statement it released on Nov 11, or Singles' Day, the country's biggest shopping day of the year.