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PBOC releases guide to payment services for foreigners

Updated: Mar 15, 2024 By Zhou Lanxu chinadaily.com.cn Print
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Quick Response (QR) codes for digital payment services Alipay by Ant Group, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, and WeChat Pay by Tencent Holdings Ltd, at a food store in Shenzhen, China, on Monday, Feb 12, 2024. [Photo/VCG]

The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, released a guide to payment services in China on Thursday as the latest step of the country's continuous efforts to optimize the payment experience of foreigners.

Available in both English and Chinese, the guide introduces a variety of payment methods accessible to foreigners in China -- ranging from bank cards and mobile payment to cash and e-CNY -- and provides clear instructions on how to use them through texts and illustrative graphics.

The guide highlights that no IDs are required for transactions under a certain amount when foreign visitors use mobile payment services such as Alipay, Weixin Pay and UnionPay, and some international e-wallets are accepted by merchants in China.

The move is seen as a step to put into place a guideline unveiled by the State Council, China's Cabinet, last week, aimed at improving payment services.

Experts said more advances can be expected in enhancing the payment convenience for foreigners this year, especially in scenarios such as using public transportation or taking a taxi.

Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics' School of International Trade and Economics, said further efforts to improve foreigners' payment experiences in key scenarios, such as public transport and dining, would be critical for helping them better adapt to life and work in China.

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