Jan 29, 2022|
Argentine Ambassador Delivers Spring Festival Parcel to The Former Chinese Envoy to Buenos Aires
by Yiming Yan
The highly respected Chinese diplomat Xu Yicong welcomed otherwise his counterpart if this were some 30 years ago. At his home in Beijing on January 19, the Argentine Ambassador to China Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja came to the senior diplomat’s doorway along with Argentine red wine and red shrimp ordered by Xu on JD.com for celebrating the coming of the Chinese New Year of Tiger. Xu is 84, and he was born in the year of tiger.
Ambassador Vaca, together with ambassadors to China from other 8 countries have been designated the Chief Promoting Officers of products from their home countries. Ambassadors have the mission to deliver the Spring Festival package to the doorsteps of Chinese clients who fancy their country’s products and culture.
Ambassador Vaca wearing a face mask
The two diplomat’s unexpected encounter was a memorable moment to a special friendship as Ambassador Xu’s last mission was in Argentina in 1997 and Ambassador Vaca’s first visit to him as an ambassador was in China, The visitor presented a Lionel Messi brand soccer and traditional Maté Tea to the host and received a first-day cover, with Ambassador Xu’s portrait on it as an outstanding Chinese diplomat.
Ambassador Vaca was also handed a commemorative Winter Olympics Beijing 2022 attire by Song Xuewen, a national model worker from JD Logistics, who accompanies ambassadors on delivery. The parties exchanged pleasantries in Spanish and even sang part of a Chinese song together. When parting, the two pointed to the portrait of Che Guevara, a native argentine, at the door and exchanged a quick smile.
The two ambassador encounters
“This first-day cover has been printed for years and few people own it. I didn’t expect to use it for such an occasion.” Ambassador Xu Yicong subsequently wrote in his blog, “The ceremony was simple and succinct, but it did mean a lot.”
According to reports from CCTV, despite the pandemic, exports to China still accounted for 9.8 percent of Argentina’s foreign trade, while 20.4 percent of the country’s imports came from China in 2021. In the first nine months of last year, bilateral trade exceeded $12 billion, increasing more than 20 percent YOY.
On February 19, 2022, China and Argentina will jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. The President of Argentina Alberto Fernández will also attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and witness and feel the friendship between the two countries while he is in Beijing.
Jun 5, 2026|
JD.com Announces Opening of First JD MALL in Hong Kong, with Plans for 6–8 New Locations Over Next Three Years
Hong Kong, June 5, 2026 – JD.com, also known as JINGDONG, announced today its first JD MALL in Hong Kong will open in Wan Chai on June 18, marking an important step in JD MALL’s expansion into the Greater Bay Area and international consumer markets.
JD MALL will bring its immersive, experience-led retail model to Hong Kong for the first time with plans to open a further six to eight locations over the next three years, with future sites expected to prioritise popular commercial districts such as Sha Tin, Mong Kok and Tuen Mun.
Built on local supply chains, JD MALL introduces technology-led retail format to Hong Kong
As JD.com’s flagship experiential retail format, JD MALL is already established in 30 locations. The Wan Chai store spans over 30,000 square feet (2,800 SQM), making it one of the largest specialist home appliance retail stores in the city. It has also established a dedicated local supply chain system, adopting a “sourced in Hong Kong, sold in Hong Kong” model, with all products meeting local standards.
JD MALL Wan Chai will offer a comprehensive range of home products, covering large and small home appliances, electronics, smart home products such as smart bathroom solutions, massage equipment, whole-home cleaning appliances and other emerging categories including AI products and robots. Its brand portfolio includes leading international brands such as Bosch, Siemens, Samsung and Sony; innovative technology brands including DJI, Xiaomi, AgiBot, Narwal and Ecovacs; as well as leading Chinese domestic brands including TCL, Hisense, Gree, Haier, Casarte and JOMOO. Several brands will also make their Hong Kong debut through dedicated experience zones inside the store.
A core feature of JD MALL is its immersive, scenario-based shopping experience. Responding to local consumers’ strong preference for in-store product trials and hands-on experiences, the store introduces a “try before you buy” model. Customers can test products in real-life scenarios before making a purchase.
The store will also feature dedicated experience areas for robotics, coffee, PC gaming, DIY, relaxation and massage, offering consumers a more interactive and engaging offline retail experience. Through this model, JD MALL aims to enrich Hong Kong’s retail landscape and support the continued diversification and upgrading of local offline retail.
A range of service commitments tailored to local consumers will also be offered. These include seven-day no-reason returns for self-operated home appliances, replacement for defective products within 180 days, and a price guarantee service. Orders placed before 11:00 a.m. will be eligible for same-day delivery, while window-type air conditioners can be delivered and installed on the same day.
Top 100 bestsellers offered at up to 50% off for grand opening
JD MALL Wan Chai will celebrate its grand opening from June 18 to 21. During the grand opening period, customers will be able to enjoy discounts of up to 50% on 100 bestselling products, member-exclusive coupons, and gift-with-purchase offers, with selected purchases eligible for gifts worth up to HKD 1,000, including tablets. Selected home appliances will also be offered at special launch prices, including 32-inch televisions from HKD 666, window-type air conditioners from HKD 1,999, and exclusive JD member benefits such as 10% off selected iPhones. Offers are available in limited quantities while stocks last.
Customers who spend HKD 1,000 or more, in a single transaction during the grand opening period will be eligible to join a lucky draw with a 100% winning rate and the chance to win premium prizes, including investment quality gold products in the shape of Joy, the mascot of JD.com. Visitors to the store will also be able to enjoy complimentary screen protector application, coffee, gaming experiences and personal care product trials.
A spokesperson of JD MALL said: “Hong Kong is the key gateway for the Greater Bay Area and has a highly developed commercial ecosystem and mature consumer market. JD MALL will draw on JD.com’s robust supply chain capabilities, digital operations expertise and experience-led retail model, while fully aligning with local compliance standards and consumer preferences. Through our local operations, we will bring high-quality products, innovative retail experiences and great service to Hong Kong consumers, while contributing to the continued diversification and upgrading of the local retail sector.”
JD MALL will continue to tailor its product selection, pricing, shopping experiences and services to local customer needs, while further developing its technology-led retail format in the city. It will also further develop omnichannel operations in Hong Kong and work closely with JD.com’s wider business ecosystem, including JINGDONG Logistics, Kai Bo Supermarket and JINGDONG Property.
JD.com has long regarded Hong Kong as a strategic market. To date, JD.com’s cumulative investment in Hong Kong has exceeded HKD 35 billion, with its retail, logistics, technology, healthcare and property businesses established and operating in the city. At the same event, JD.com also announced plans to on-board 1,000 leading local and international brands, open 200 offline retail locations, and support the creation of 10,000 jobs in Hong Kong in the next three years.
Jun 2, 2026|
Shop Anytime, Anywhere: JD.com Pioneers China’s First Online Departure Tax Refund Service for International Visitors
BEIJING, June 2, 2026 – JD.com (also known as JINGDONG) today announced the launch of China’s first online departure tax refund store on its mobile app, following the successful completion of the country’s first fully digital tax refund transaction service in Beijing. This milestone establishes the capital as the first Chinese city to implement an integrated online departure tax refund system, making “Shopping in China” far more convenient for international visitors.
International travelers can now shop for eligible items anytime and anywhere across the Chinese mainland through the “Online Departure Tax Refund Store” using either the English or Chinese interface on the JD.com app. By simply entering their identification and entry/exit information at checkout, the system automatically generates an electronic departure tax refund application and invoice. Once the items are delivered, travelers have the flexibility to process their refunds at designated centralized tax refund points within the city, at Beijing Capital International Airport, or Beijing Daxing International Airport prior to departure. Overseas visitors are normally eligible for a tax refund of up to 9% on qualified purchases in the Chinese mainland. The launch of this streamlined digital system means that more travelers can now effortlessly access these substantial savings during their visit.
On May 29, Angela, a visitor from Indonesia, became one of the first travelers to experience this new service in Beijing. Having ordered a mobile phone for RMB 2,319 on JD.com just a day prior, she received it at her hotel the next day thanks to JD.com’s efficient same-day and next-day delivery network. She then brought the unopened product to the Empark Prime Hotel Beijing—one of the city’s designated downtown tax refund hubs—where she swiftly completed the process on-site and received an RMB 208 VAT refund.
“This innovative ‘JD Solution’ digitizes the entire departure tax refund process, making travel and shopping in China a more rewarding and effortless experience for international visitors,” said a JD.com spokesperson. “We remain fully committed to leveraging our advanced technology and logistics network to continuously elevate the shopping experience.”
Under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Tax Service and the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, JD.com is also collaborating with the Bank of China to build out instant online “buy-and-refund” capabilities. Once fully rolled out, this initiative will allow a growing number of overseas visitors to enjoy a more convenient, seamless, and digitized shopping experience in China.
Currently, the online departure tax refund store on JD.com features nearly 300 product categories across six major segments, including mobile communications, consumer electronics, computers, kitchen gadgets, home appliances, and personal care. Every eligible item comes with transparent pricing and guaranteed authenticity. Looking ahead, JD.com plans to expand its tax-free inventory to include trendy designer toys, popular domestic sportswear brands, and more. The company will also enhance its multilingual customer support and explore expanding the service to more cities, ports of exit, and shopping scenarios.
To qualify for the departure tax refund service, international travelers and residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan must meet specific statutory criteria. Eligible shoppers must have stayed in the Chinese mainland for no more than 183 consecutive days, and the purchase amount from the same traveler at the same store, on the same day, must reach a minimum of 200 RMB. Additionally, the departure date must be within 90 days from the date of purchase, and the goods must remain completely unopened before departure.
(vivian.yang@jd.com)
Georgian Ambassador Delivers Wine Package and Joins Beijinger’s New Year’s Eve party
