On September 12, Bank of China hosted a launch event for cross-regional recognition of its "immediate purchase and refund" departure tax service at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The bank announced it will pilot a program within its departure tax refund service areas, enabling foreign tourists to process immediate refunds and depart through alternative ports. The bank also unveiled its comprehensive departure tax refund service system "Easy Tax Refund."

Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping, Beijing Municipal Government Party Group Member Tang Wenhong, and Bank of China Vice President Cai Zhao attended the event and delivered speeches.

Since becoming the first institution to obtain departure tax refund agency qualification in 2015 and processing the nation's inaugural transaction, Bank of China has concentrated on key areas including expanding tax refund merchants, promoting tax refund policies, and serving tax refund applicants. The bank currently handles departure tax refund services across 16 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan, accounting for nearly 50% of all regions offering departure tax refund services. The brand recognition of "Choose Bank of China for departure tax refunds" continues to strengthen.

Building upon the successful implementation of cross-regional recognition between Beijing-Tianjin and Sichuan-Shaanxi regions, Bank of China has developed a systematic cross-regional recognition solution for immediate departure tax refunds this year. The bank is actively responding to the Ministry of Commerce's "Shop in China" series of activities, accelerating innovation in departure tax refund services to help unleash consumer potential. Using this mutual recognition mechanism launch as a new starting point, Bank of China will continue expanding its service scope and contribute to building a higher-level open economic system.