The General Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, has unveiled a guideline aimed at optimizing payment services in the country, with a particular focus on improving accessibility for foreign visitors and senior citizens. The key measures include:

Bank card payments

Broaden the acceptance of bank card payments across various scenarios, including utility and medical bill payments, as well as transactions at tourist attractions and shopping centers.

Task local governments with compiling a list of pivotal locations and businesses for these specific scenarios to bolster the acceptance of foreign bank cards for transactions at these locations and businesses, including major commercial areas, tourist attractions, resorts, nightlife and tourism hotspots, museums and cultural venues, entertainment facilities, hotels, transportation hubs, and medical institutions.

Encourage banks and payment institutions to expedite the upgrade of devices for accepting foreign bank cards at designated key businesses, while also promoting the adoption of contactless payment methods.

Urge bank card clearinghouses to accelerate their integration with international payment platforms.

Call upon the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and other relevant regulatory bodies to strengthen guidance and incorporate the acceptance of bank cards by merchants into their respective service quality assessments.

Cash usage

Encourage businesses, especially those in transportation, shopping, dining, culture and entertainment, tourism, and accommodation, to publicly commit to accepting cash and ensure the availability of sufficient change.

Prohibit bank outlets from arbitrarily suspending cash transactions.

Upgrade ATMs to accept more bank cards and support cash withdrawals in the renminbi via ATMs for groups such as foreign visitors and the elderly.

Crack down on activities that refuse transactions in cash, increase penalties, and enhance exposure.

Provide guidance to increase the establishment of foreign currency exchange institutions in areas with a high concentration of foreign visitors, such as airports, ports, and hotels, and enhance the variety of foreign currency while strengthening training for foreign currency exchange personnel.

Mobile payments

Streamline the process for foreign visitors to obtain domestic mobile phone numbers and provide robust international roaming services.

Promote better online and offline payment services at key tourist attractions, resorts, nightlife and tourism areas, commercial districts, key tourist streets, and important cultural and entertainment venues.

Support internet platforms closely related to daily life consumption to optimize the payment experience for foreign visitors in purchasing products and services online and offline.

Diversified payment options

Mandate major commercial areas, tourist attractions, resorts, nightlife and tourism hotspots, museums and cultural venues, entertainment facilities, hotels, transportation hubs, and medical institutions to support diversified payment options, including mobile, bank card, and cash payments.

Encourage smaller-scale areas to support diversified payment options.

Account-opening services

Streamline account-opening procedures, categorize accounts, and provide multilingual services.

Encourage the establishment of "green channels" at bank outlets for groups such as foreign visitors and the elderly.

The National Immigration Administration should provide information verification services to the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to improve the efficiency of account opening in banks and payment institutions.

Payment knowledge

Encourage the establishment of payment service consultation counters in major commercial areas, tourist attractions, resorts, nightlife and tourism hotspots, museums and cultural venues, entertainment facilities, hotels, transportation hubs, and medical institutions.

Display signs for foreign bank card swiping, ATM cash withdrawals, and domestic and foreign currency exchange.

Guide airlines and travel agencies to carry out diverse promotional activities in overseas Chinese cultural centers, overseas tourism offices, international flights, overseas visa centers, and ports.