A senior official from China's State Taxation Administration on Tuesday reported major improvements in taxpayer convenience and a surge in overseas tourists using China's departure tax refund service in the first six months of this year.
Rong Hailou, chief economist and spokesman for the State Taxation Administration, made the remarks during a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing to outline tax reform and development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
He said the fully digitalized electronic tax bureau is now widely accessible. He noted that most high‑frequency tax services, including routine filing, invoice issuance, social security fee refunds, and personal contribution record inquiries, can now be handled online or via mobile devices.
The coverage of intelligent tax services has reached 85 percent, reducing average processing time by 20 percent, he said.
"We have piloted the 'instant invoicing upon payment' initiative in sectors closely related to people's daily lives, including parking lots, retail supermarkets, and hospitality services such as catering and accommodation, thereby improving the efficiency and user experience of invoice collection for consumers. We have also continued to refine the 'immediate tax refund' service for overseas tourists departing China. In the first half of the year, the number of overseas tourists using the tax refund service increased by 366 percent year-on-year, while the sales value of tax-refundable goods and the corresponding tax refund amount both rose by 69 percent," he said.
China posts tax service improvements, tourist refunds surge: official
China posts tax service improvements, tourist refunds surge: official
Slovak citizens have spoken highly of China's remarkable development accomplishments and voiced expectations for closer bilateral cooperation as their president is paying a state visit to China.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini is on a state visit to China from Monday to Wednesday.
In a recent vox pop by China Global Television Network (CGTN), local people in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, shared their impressions of China, outlooks on bilateral relations, and hopes for the presidential visit. Interviewees across different professions praised China's progress, with many highlighting its remarkable advances in infrastructure, technological innovation and economic growth.
Daniele, an IT developer, was particularly drawn to China's rich cultural heritage.
"It has a very nice culture, so that's why in the future I think I will visit this country," he said.
For others, China's forward-looking vision is a major source of inspiration. Veronika, a sales clerk, expressed her fascination with the country's technological strides.
"I have a very positive view of China. I'm fascinated by its technology and enjoy learning about it. I think there's a lot we can learn from China, and I really admire how forward-looking it is," she said.
Robin, another sales clerk, sees valuable lessons for Slovakia in China's economic model.
"It's a big country with a long history, and I think concerning the economy, it's something we can learn about to make our own economy more versatile," he said.
Jan Kubo, an administrative manager, was impressed by the sheer scale of China's development.
"China impressed me with the sheer scale of infrastructure development and economic growth," he said.
Looking ahead to how bilateral ties may evolve after the state visit, most interviewees expressed optimism about mutually beneficial collaboration.
"I think China could really contribute a lot to Slovakia's development. As I mentioned earlier, this is particularly the case with technology – whether it's cars, machinery, heavy equipment, or everyday items like phones, tablets and computers. There's definitely a lot we can learn from China, and I believe that's going to help us move forward," said Veronika.
"It's very important that these countries work together because they can learn from each other," said Robin.
When it comes to overall expectations for the presidential visit, local residents looked forward to tangible outcomes and closer bonds between the two countries.
"I certainly expect the visit to bring tangible benefits to our country. I hope the two sides will reach agreements that benefit the Slovak Republic," said Veronika.
"He is representing our European values, this is very important. But also strengthen the ties between the two countries," said Robin.
Slovaks praise China's development, eye deeper cooperation as president visits China
Slovaks praise China's development, eye deeper cooperation as president visits China
