PBOC to make payments easier for foreigners

The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, is intensifying efforts to execute a guideline designed to ensure that foreigners enjoy a seamless payment experience in China, whether through cash, bank cards or mobile payments.

On Friday, Zhang Meng, deputy head of the currency, gold and silver bureau at the PBOC, said the central bank, in collaboration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, has issued a guideline on improving payment services for overseas visitors to China, set up a specialized working mechanism and developed a detailed action plan.

In a reply to China Daily's question, Zhang said at a news conference that the central bank has studied the convenience of cash usage by foreigners in 98,000 stores as of Dec 24. The survey covered various sectors, including mobile communications, catering and accommodation, scenic attractions and transportation.

Efforts are also being advanced in areas such as improving the acceptance of overseas bank cards and enriching the supply of mobile payment products for foreign visitors, Zhang said.

In Zhejiang province, for example, 85 percent of key stores have been upgraded to accept foreign bank cards and 99 percent of automated teller machines in important locations have been modified to accommodate foreign cards, said Yang Renrong, a member of the Party committee of the PBOC's Zhejiang provincial branch.

Yang said that 2 million stores in Zhejiang are now equipped to process mobile payments for international customers, adding that the branch will further encourage mobile payment service providers to enhance the mobile payment experience for overseas visitors.