China's instant tax refund policies boost shopping experience for foreign tourists

China's instant tax refund policies have significantly enhanced shopping experiences for foreign tourists, eliminating airport processing delays and allowing visitors to immediately reinvest refunded money during their stays.

China's inbound tourism has been growing rapidly in recent years. Alongside iconic landmarks and rich cultural experiences, shopping has also become an integral part of visitors' travel experience, especially with the instant tax rebate service.

Since the nationwide extension of the policy on April 8, foreign shoppers can receive up to 11 percent tax rebates directly in designated stores, rather than having to wait until they leave the country.

To qualify for a refund, tourists need to spend just 200 yuan (about 27.51 U.S. dollars in a single store. The maximum cash refund limit has now increased to 20,000 yuan.

International travelers can receive immediate cash refunds in Chinese yuan after completing credit card pre-authorization procedures and signing the necessary agreements.

The policy builds on a slew of recent efforts by China to boost global exchanges and mobility, such as easing its visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining customs clearance.

In Shanghai, the service has been available in about half of the city's tax refund partner stores.

At Beijing SKP, one of the top luxury shopping malls offering instant tax refund services, international shoppers are highly praising the policy.

"You show them the passport and they make the discount. They give us a paper. They (the staff) write, they do it for us. So convenient," said Miguel Escriva and Maria Cristina De Sousa, tourists from Spain. "For foreign tourists, it's always better to get money back -- a lot of money back," said a European tourist.

"It's very nice. It makes you so happy that you want to buy some more," said a Saudi Arabian tourist.

These policies have made it easier to explore the country than ever, fueling a surge in "China Travel" content on social media platforms.

"Anything. Maybe some local brands that you can't get overseas, also luxury brands -- as soon as you take the tax out, the price becomes really competitive with other cities," said Farzaan Kassam, a Canadian residing in Beijing.

"Yesterday we were in Shanghai. We went to find some things. The price was similar in Europe. That's good," said De Sousa.

China's instant tax refund policies boost shopping experience for foreign tourists

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival