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The People's Bank of China, Ministry of Commerce, and State Administration of Foreign Exchange have introduced new policy measures aimed at facilitating easier payment for foreign visitors, as part of the nation's ongoing efforts to promote high-quality development.

The notice, issued on Wednesday, comes in response to the growing demand for diverse payment services in the commercial sector, aligning with the country's ongoing efforts to enhance high-quality engagement with the global community.

With a focus on improving payment convenience for various groups, mainly including foreign visitors and the elderly, the notice targets key areas such as bank card acceptance, cash payments, mobile payments, account services, and publicity efforts. This aims to foster an inclusive and diverse payment environment.

Specifically, the measures outlined in the notice encompass various locations such as large business districts, pedestrian streets, shopping malls, department stores, chain supermarkets, restaurants, and duty-free shops.

The notice emphasizes the promotion of key places and merchants that should have necessary software and hardware facilities to accept a wide range of payment methods, including mobile payments, domestic and foreign bank cards, cash, and other international payment measures.

It also aims to ensure consumers can choose their preferred payment methods independently.

Government departments have committed to spearheading the establishment of key business districts that are conducive for payment by foreign visitors, with the goal of achieving comprehensive acceptance of overseas bank cards at key merchants.

Additional efforts will be directed toward setting up payment service counters at ports of entry and key foreign-related locations, accompanied by the distribution of multi-language promotional materials and the provision of services such as currency exchange and guidance on how to use mobile payment applications.

China continues to implement measures aimed at facilitating services for foreigners visiting the country for work, study, and tourism, in line with its broader agenda of advancing further opening-up initiatives.

Since January 11, five measures introduced by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) have been effectively addressing barriers for foreigners coming to China for business, study and tourism.

In 2023, border inspection agencies across China inspected a total of 210 million people entering the country, equivalent to 62.9 percent of the level in 2019.

With the development of the global economy and trade, and the orderly resumption of international flights and cross-border personnel movement, the NIA believes that the number of visitors will continue to increase in 2024.

Global Times