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China's cross-border e-commerce up 15.5 pct in 2025: minister

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China's cross-border e-commerce up 15.5 pct in 2025: minister

2026-03-06 20:26 Last Updated At:03-07 12:55

China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports surged to 2.75 trillion yuan (about 398.28 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up 15.5 percent from 2.38 trillion yuan a year earlier, highlighting the sector’s growing role in driving foreign trade, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's supreme organ of state power, the minister outlined key developments of China's foreign trade in 2025.

"New forms and models in China's foreign trade have demonstrated robust vitality, with the scale of cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reaching 2.75 trillion yuan (about 398.28 billion U.S. dollars). Our high-end, smart, green, and low-carbon products and robots, have become a new hallmark of China's foreign trade," said Wang.

Wang stressed that China will accelerate new engines of foreign trade, pledging to drive exports of artificial intelligence and modern green power equipment while expanding digital and low-carbon trade.

"We will also focus on emerging sectors and new business models, closely monitor the development of digital trade and green trade, and promote the export momentum of artificial intelligence and modern green power equipment. We will rapidly increase exports of these products to cultivate new drivers for foreign trade growth," he said.

China will also pursue a balanced foreign trade structure by expanding imports while stabilizing exports, according to Wang.

"China is the world's second-largest economy and the second-largest import market at the same time. China boasts a continuously expanding middle-income group, indicating substantial market potential. Moreover, our market is proactively open. We will pursue balanced trade development, primarily by expanding imports while stabilizing exports, combining import expansion with export stabilization," said Wang.

China's cross-border e-commerce up 15.5 pct in 2025: minister

China's cross-border e-commerce up 15.5 pct in 2025: minister

Claims for departure tax refunds by overseas visitors to China have surged 12.96 times year on year over the past year, signaling robust momentum in inbound tourism spending, according to the latest data from the State Taxation Administration.

The total sales volume eligible for refunds and the actual refund amounts disbursed have both jumped by 9.35 times, the data showed.

The departure tax refund policy, designed to simplify the value-added tax (VAT) refund process for non-resident shoppers, allows eligible overseas visitors to receive their tax refunds on the spot at participating retailers, rather than waiting until departure from designated airport counters.

China has introduced a series of measures since April last year to optimize its tax refund system for overseas visitors.

The policy optimization has included the establishment of immediate tax refund counters in major shopping districts in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Guangzhou. Cities, including Shanghai and Hangzhou, have also introduced online refund options, making the process more efficient.

Nationwide, more than 8,000 retail stores now offer the "immediate refund" option, a more than 100% increase from one year ago.

Industry analysts note that the "immediate refund" mechanism has proven effective in stimulating consumer spending. By receiving refunds immediately after purchase, overseas travelers can reinvest the money into additional shopping or experiences during their stay in China.

China's departure tax refund claims surge 13 times over past year: data

China's departure tax refund claims surge 13 times over past year: data

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