By Tian Hong, Wang Yunna, People’s Daily

As China continues to expand its opening up, its visa-free policy network keeps growing, and departure tax refund procedures are being streamlined. These measures are fueling rising enthusiasm among international visitors for tourism and shopping in China.

China fully implemented its departure tax refund policy in 2015 and has since rolled out a series of new and improved measures. In April of this year, six government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, issued a set of measures to further optimize the policy to better serve international tourists and stimulate inbound consumption.

Key improvements include lowering the minimum purchase threshold for tax refunds from 500 yuan ($70.7) to 200 yuan and raising the cash refund limit from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan. These changes have effectively expanded the number of tax-refund stores, enriched the range of refundable goods, and improved the overall service quality, yielding clear results.

Latest data from the State Taxation Administration show that from January to September this year, applications for departure tax refunds by overseas travelers surged by 229.8 percent year on year, while the total refund amount rose by 97.4 percent. These figures underscore the growing inbound consumption vitality unleashed by the continued optimization.

International tourists have responded positively. A Swiss visitor, shopping with his girlfriend at a flagship store on Shanghai’s Huaihai Road, praised the convenience: “The tax refund process was quick and smooth, offering a 9 percent refund — almost like a 10 percent discount. For a first-time visitor to China, this is very convenient.”

These streamlined procedures and financial incentives are enhancing China’s appeal as a premier shopping destination, further integrating the country into global tourism networks.

Beyond authorizing individual stores to offer instant refunds, Shanghai established 26 centralized tax refund service points across key commercial districts. These hubs allow tourists to consolidate refunds from multiple purchases made at different stores in a single location, greatly improving efficiency. 

During the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November 2024, Shanghai introduced a centralized instant tax refund service station directly at the expo venue — a first. This station featured integrated POS systems for departure tax refunds, combining pre-authorization agreements with real-time advance refunds.

Currently, Shanghai boasts over 1,700 tax-refund stores citywide. Many service points now offer mobile refund options. This enables the entire process, from purchase invoicing and customs verification to refund payment, to be completed online. Through online pre-authorization, refunds can be received instantly via platforms like Alipay.

This year, Shanghai has handled departure tax refunds for nearly 100,000 travelers from 179 countries and regions. As of Sept. 29, the city’s departure tax refund sales had increased by 83.8 percent year on year, while the total refund amount rose by 82.9 percent, ranking first among all provincial-level regions in China.

“More than 3,000 yuan in refunds was credited instantly. This is remarkably efficient. Traveling in China has been a great experience!” said a tourist from Spain, who spoke highly of China’s instant tax refund policy.

At Teemall shopping center in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, he spent over an hour carefully selecting a wide variety of items, from smartphones and drones to traditional Chinese clothing, as well as specialty snacks and intangible cultural heritage-inspired creative products. 

“Chinese products are of high quality and offer great value for money. I really like them,” he said. He initially thought that only luggage and clothing were eligible for instant refunds, but was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of applicable products. 

With a smooth application process and rapid refund, the Spanish tourist was able to fully enjoy his shopping experience in China. “When I come the next time, I’ll bring a few extra empty suitcases to take more Chinese products home,” he said.

The continued improvement of instant tax refund policies and services is attracting a growing number of overseas tourists to travel and spend in China. 

Guangzhou officially launched its first batch of centralized instant tax refund service points at the end of June, making refund procedures simpler and payments faster. 

With the introduction of one-stop online services for in-store instant refunds, overseas visitors can now scan a merchant-specific QR code after shopping and complete the refund process independently online, with the fastest refunds credited within five minutes. 

At present, the number of tax-refund stores in Guangzhou has exceeded 1,500, covering all 11 urban districts of the city.

By Atsushi Koketsu

The erroneous remarks on China’s Taiwan made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi have triggered strong dissatisfaction of the Chinese government and the Chinese people. Regrettably, neither Takaichi herself, nor the Japanese government, nor some segments of the Japanese public have fully understood the fundamental reasons behind China’s anger.

Takaichi’s remarks constitute a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter, and amount to a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs. Taken at face value, her statements effectively negate the one-China principle explicitly established in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, and are tantamount to denying the political foundation of Japan-China relations. 

The Chinese government’s criticism in this regard is entirely justified and beyond reproach. The Japanese government frequently accuses China of attempting to change the existing order, but in reality, it is Japan itself that is seeking to undermine the post-war international order and alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese government should reaffirm the core content of the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and re-examine the true significance of the one-China principle that Japan upheld before and after the normalization of diplomatic relations with China. 

It is worth noting that certain political forces in Japan have taken China’s strong protest and firm opposition to Takaichi’s remarks as an excuse to aggressively promote the so-called “China threat” theory, using an overly simplistic and dangerous line of reasoning to dismiss the guiding principle of the four political documents between China and Japan. Some even groundlessly accused China of adopting a “high-pressure stance.” 

Such clumsy reactions, which distort right and wrong, have gained traction amid the growing rightward shift in Japan’s political thinking. This very environment has become fertile ground for the emergence of Takaichi’s erroneous Taiwan-related remarks.

On Nov. 21, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a press conference that if the remarks by the Japanese side were misunderstood, it would be more cautious in the future. This amounted to an indirect acknowledgment of the inappropriateness of Takaichi’s remarks. 

However, given the gravity of the issue, the Japanese government must correct the erroneous remarks and offer an apology. Attempting to brush the matter aside by saying the remarks were “misunderstood” fails to demonstrate any sincerity toward China.

The legal basis for the so-called “survival-threatening situation” derives from the new security legislation that Japan’s parliament forced through in 2015. 

Japan, which ought to have upheld its identity as a peace-loving nation committed to its Pacifist Constitution and have worked to erase the stigma of past aggression, has in recent years moved in the opposite direction, a deeply regrettable development. 

The so-called three security documents of Japan in effect provide the grounds for implementing a “preemptive strike” strategy and, in this sense, are unconstitutional in nature. 

Takaichi’s erroneous Taiwan-related remarks have dealt a serious blow to Japan-China mutual trust. A prime minister who repeatedly claims to “protect the nation and its people” has instead personally inflicted grave damage on the security of both. The negative repercussions are bound to extend across Japan’s political, economic, tourism, and educational sectors.

Takaichi’s lack of acuity and shortcomings in foreign and defense policy are now impossible to conceal. It can be said that she has exposed to the international community, including China, the decline and low caliber of Japan’s diplomatic capacity.

Even more troubling is that the Japanese government appears intent on covering up the prime minister’s major misstep, doing everything possible to defend her erroneous remarks. 

Behind Takaichi stands a convergence of hawkish and militaristic forces both within and outside the Liberal Democratic Party. These forces have long sought to steer Japan toward becoming a military power. Concerns previously expressed about Takaichi catering to these forces after taking office have now quickly become reality.

Since Takaichi made her erroneous Taiwan-related remarks, Japan-China relations have continued to deteriorate. At this point, promptly withdrawing the remarks and issuing a public apology is the only viable solution. Stable and friendly Japan-China relations constitute one of Japan’s most important guarantees of security.

(Atsushi Koketsu is a professor emeritus at Japan’s Yamaguchi University.)

By Ouyang Jie, Shen Xiaoxiao, Song Haoxin, People’s Daily

To expand unilateral opening to the least developed countries (LDCs) and achieve common development, China has granted zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all the LCDs it has diplomatic relations with since Dec. 1, 2024. For products subject to tariff quota administration, goods within the quota will enjoy zero tariffs, while tariff rates on goods exceeding the quota will remain unchanged.

Over the past year, China-Africa mutually beneficial cooperation has advanced steadily, injecting renewed vitality into bilateral trade.

In recent years, Ethiopia’s coffee exports to China have grown at an annual rate of 27 percent. The zero-tariff policy has allowed the rich aroma of coffee from its birthplace to flow into the vast Chinese market. China has become Ethiopia’s fourth-largest coffee export destination. In fiscal year 2024/2025, Ethiopia exported more than 34,000 tons of coffee to China, generating over $218 million in revenue.

“The zero-tariff policy makes our coffee highly competitive in the Chinese market,” said Israel Degefa, CEO of Kerchanshe, Ethiopia’s largest coffee producer and exporter. He noted that since December 2024, the company’s coffee exports to China have surged. The zero-tariff policy has enhanced the price competitiveness of Ethiopian coffee, helping local coffee farmers and industry workers increase their incomes. “We plan to further scale up production to meet rising demand from the Chinese market,” he told People’s Daily.

To Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, coffee “symbolizes solid cooperation and lasting friendship.” He said China’s zero-tariff policy helps African countries strengthen local production capacity, enhance export capabilities, and improve returns on their export products.

“From Mozambique’s golden sesame pods in the fields to fragrant sesame oil produced in workshops in Chengdu, China, the cross-border supply chain is becoming increasingly mature and efficient,” said Ye Chunming, general manager of Chengdu Yimin Investment Group based in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province.

Sesame, Africa’s top agricultural export to China, is entering the Chinese market more smoothly through direct overseas sourcing. Mozambique’s favorable climate produces high-quality sesame.

“We source directly at the origin so we can control quality from the planting stage,” Ye explained. In addition to Mozambique, the company also directly sourced 1,120 tons of white sesame from Niger this year. The first batch of 246 tons arrived at Qingdao Port in east China’s Shandong province in May, with the remainder arriving successively in June, further expanding its direct procurement network.

“These sesame seeds are plump and bright, with an oil content of over 50 percent. The sesame oil pressed from them has a rich, appetizing aroma,” said the procurement manager of a pastry manufacturer, praising the product’s quality.

“We will continue to expand our presence in the African market and further streamline direct sourcing channels,” Ye added. More and more enterprises are taking concrete steps to build efficient cross-border corridors for China-Africa agricultural products and deepen mutual trust and industrial cooperation in agricultural trade.

In a workshop of Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd. in Weihai, Shandong province, smart production lines run at full speed. Rubber materials imported from Africa are carefully processed into high-performance tires with uniform tread patterns.

The company exports its products to more than 180 countries and regions across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, and consumes tens of thousands of tons of rubber raw materials annually. When sourcing raw materials, the company increasingly looks to African countries.

“Since the zero-tariff policy took effect, the tariff rate on natural rubber smoked sheets imported from Liberia has been reduced from 20 percent to zero. The first batch alone received tariff reductions amounting to around 300,000 yuan ($55,002),” said Du Xiaoping, manager in charge of inspection and verification at Triangle Tyre’s finance department. Liberia’s natural rubber is certified under ISCC PLUS, a sustainable certification scheme for bio-based, renewable and circular raw materials, and serves as a key raw material for high-end tires, offering superior wear resistance and flexibility.

China’s largest rubber-importing port is located in Qingdao, surrounded by a number of major tire manufacturers. According to Qingdao customs, in the first 10 months of this year, Shandong imported goods worth 87.645 billion yuan from Africa, up 50.3 percent year on year. Among these, imports of natural and synthetic rubber reached 2.6 billion yuan, marking a 50.7 percent increase. 

Focusing on LDCs with active trade such as Mali, Niger, and Zambia, Qingdao customs has simplified documentation requirements, taking into account the fact that many of these countries’ goods must be transshipped through third-country ports.

Ports in Shandong have also expanded shipping routes, offering more efficient and convenient channels. At Qingdao Port, nine Africa-bound routes connect directly to 17 ports in 11 African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Benin. At Yantai Port, China-Africa liner services reach Guinea, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and other countries and regions, with annual throughput expected to exceed five million tons.