Beijing Earmarks Funds to Upgrade Tourist Payments and Services

(Poder360) — China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce said they plan to select 15 pilot cities to receive funding to improve the consumption experience for international visitors — including more accessible payment methods. The announcement was made Tuesday in a joint policy notice by the two ministries.

One of the most significant changes is the rollout of payment systems that accept cards on international networks. Currently, most commerce in China relies on transactions through domestic apps WeChat and Alipay.