China has reduced import tariffs on a large number of goods in its latest move to expand domestic demand and advance high-standard opening up.
The move is part of an annual tariff adjustment plan that takes effect on Jan. 1.
Provisional import tariffs, lower than the most-favored-nation rates, will be applied to 935 commodities. Authorities say the plan will help increase imports of quality products.
The tariff reduction also aligns with the need to foster new quality productive forces, enhance people's well-being, and promote green and low-carbon development.
Under 24 free trade and preferential trade arrangements, conventional tariff rates will be applied to certain products from 34 countries or regions next year as part of China's efforts to expand its globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas.
Among these, lower tariffs under the China-Maldives free trade agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2025, will eventually lead to zero tariffs on nearly 96 percent of tariff lines between the two sides.
China also continues to offer zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to the 43 least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China.
The move aims to support their development and foster mutual benefits.
Specified tariff items will be introduced for products such as pure electric passenger vehicles to support industrial development and sci-tech advancement, while import tariffs will be increased on goods including battery diaphragms, in light of domestic industrial development and market supply and demand, and in accordance with its commitments to the World Trade Organization.
China reduces tariffs on over 900 commodities to boost domestic demands
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
