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E-mail China.org.cn, April 8, 2024
Shou Xiaoli:
The last two questions, please.
Yicai:
We have noticed that Shanghai has recently installed over 30,000 foreign card point-of-sale (POS) terminals and launched a series of policies and measures to improve convenient payments. What other conveniences will Shanghai provide for foreigners working, living, and traveling in China? Thank you.
Hua Yuan:
Thank you for your question. This issue is of great concern to many people from overseas. As we all know, Shanghai is China's largest aviation and shipping hub, as well as a top destination among overseas visitors for business, study, and tourism. We have earnestly implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and made dedicated efforts to develop a new payment service system with mobile payments as the main component, bank card payments as the focus, and cash payments as the foundation. We will continue to improve this Shanghai solution in convenient payments.
First, we are advancing mobile payments. We have encouraged UnionPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay to innovate cross-border payment methods, making it easier for users to conduct mobile payments with domestic merchants. Currently, China UnionPay supports payments from more than 180 overseas wallets at UnionPay direct merchants, and Alipay enables e-wallets from 10 countries and regions to make payments in China.
Second, we have improved bank card payments. Last year, we focused on key business districts and areas, activating and installing over 37,000 POS terminals for foreign bank card users. In key sectors such as commerce, tourism, and transportation, we have achieved full POS coverage for major merchants. Currently, Shanghai ranks first nationwide in foreign card POS transaction volumes and per-customer transaction values.
Third, we have improved cash payment systems. Shanghai maintains a comprehensive network for RMB cash withdrawals and exchanges, which includes over 8,000 ATMs, more than 3,500 Chinese-funded bank branches, 13 licensed foreign exchange outlets, and 183 foreign exchange agents, providing foreigners with convenient access to cash.
As Shanghai continues to see increasing inflows of overseas visitors, the city will further remove the barriers for foreigners to work and live in Shanghai. We aim to offer more high-quality, efficient, and convenient services and create a more welcoming environment for them. Specifically, we will align with Shanghai's "five centers" initiative and step up efforts to optimize the following two aspects.
On the one hand, we will continue to optimize the convenience of payment methods. This includes further increasing the availability of POS (Point of Sale) machines for international credit cards, expanding their application scenarios, setting up one-stop service desks at airports and other areas, and promoting citywide accessibility for international credit cards to be able to withdraw yuan from ATMs. We will also accelerate the development of key commercial districts such as Nanjing East Road, Nanjing West Road and Huaihai Middle Road into model districts for departure tax refunds. In the near future, we will introduce specific measures to further enhance the convenience of payments.
On the other hand, we will continue to optimize the content of services related to foreign affairs. At the beginning of this year, the International Services Shanghai online portal was launched. The objective of this website is to welcome and help foreigners, making it easier for those coming to Shanghai to better understand and integrate into the city. We will adhere to a user-oriented approach and empathetic thinking, continuously enhancing the multilingual and scenario-based functions, making it useful and practical for all foreigners in Shanghai, and a service that they will truly love to use. We welcome everyone to explore the online service, use it often and share your valuable feedback and suggestions. Thank you.
