On September 9, the 6th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum (BRITACOF) opened in Kathmandu, Nepal, strengthening its ties with the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Around 400 delegates participated in the Forum, including representatives from tax authorities in 45 jurisdictions, 13 international organizations, and renowned enterprises. The Forum consists of Council Meetings and Plenary Sessions and will last for three days, with discussions held on six topics.
The 6th BRITACOF is hosted by the Inland Revenue Department of Nepal, aiming to explore new pathways for tax administration cooperation and inject momentum into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Forum began with a welcome address by Madan Dahal, Director General of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Nepal.
Wang Daoshu, Executive Secretary of the BRITACOM Secretariat and Deputy Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration (STA) of China, updated attendees on the progress of BRITACOM. Wang noted that this Forum will focus on the implementation of the Tax Administration Product Portfolio and the Taxpayer Service Product Portfolio, which will further standardize tax administration processes, enhance the quality of taxpayer service, and provide practical and replicable solutions for tax authorities worldwide.
Mr. Benjamin Chan, Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong, China, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing that BRITACOF is an important annual event for fostering Belt and Road tax administration cooperation through the sharing of experiences and expertise.
The GBA serves as a key hub for the BRI and two-way investment, where flows of goods, capital, and data converge. With its dynamic business activities and unique "one country, two systems, three legal jurisdictions," it has become a natural testing ground for cross-border tax administration.
For example, a workshop was established for Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao collaboration. Additionally, the BRITA·Macao (Hengqin campus), also known as the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Academy of Macao, celebrated its first anniversary in September, deepening taxation cooperation between the GBA and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Taxation Cooperation Mechanism was first proposed by China in April 2019. Today, it brings together 37 members and 31 observers, becoming a multilateral cooperation platform for international taxation.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | BRITACOF
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
