In order to implement the Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment
Services to Facilitate Payments by China's State Council and
the arrangements of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), China
UnionPay launched Project Excellence 2024 in March. Up to now, the
Project has achieved initial results in 41 key cities and 17
payment use cases nationwide.
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by
clicking on this link.
Bridging the digital divide and accelerating payment
optimization
To accommodate the payment preferences of inbound visitors to
China and the elderly, China UnionPay offers a wide range of
payment methods, including cards, QR, and OEM pay products, as well
as cash withdrawal. With the launch of the SplendorPlus card by
Bank of China Singapore Branch and Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan, as
well as the Guangxi Card and the Greater Bay Area Theme Card, China
UnionPay has issued more than 240 million cards in 81
countries and regions outside China's mainland, and has rolled out
nearly 200 UnionPay-powered e-wallets in 35 countries and regions
internationally. As of the end of May, the number and value of
in-store purchases made by international UnionPay cards in China
rose 85.2% and 48.6% year-on-year, respectively.
China National Silk Museum by the West Lake in Hangzhou,
Zhejiang Province attracted large crowds during the Chinese Costume
Festival. Helen from the UK acquired an immersive experience of the
cultural event wearing a traditional Chinese dress. She then
shopped for many embroidery-themed gifts. "I was worried about
payment challenges. But the staff said that I could use an
international UnionPay card, which I happen to have. It couldn't be
any easier," she said.
Ellis, a businessman from Spain, returned to the International
Trade Mart in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, which he had not been able
to visit for four years. The shopkeeper there recommended that he
pay with his international UnionPay card. This option has made
wholesale purchases much easier for business persons across the
world.
During the Summer Davos, Cheon Chang Nyung from South Korea
visited Dalian for the first time. The trip, lasting a few days,
changed his mind about payment services in China. "I will tell my
friends back home to bring the Hana UnionPay card when they visit
China." He also used Hana Pay to quickly pay for his meal at a
restaurant that accepts UnionPay QR codes.
At the senior canteens in Shanghai, Fujian, Hainan and many
other places, the elderly are enjoying the convenience of digital
payment brought by offerings such as the senior-friendly version of
the UnionPay App and facial recognition payments. Ms. Tan from
Shanghai is positive about the experience. "The AI Canteen is very
good. I can pay with cash, mobile phone, and also with facial
recognition. Sometimes there are even discounts." At a canteen in
Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province, Granny Wang uses her UnionPay
card, designed specifically for senior citizens, to pay for her
subsidized meals. This particular card is purpose-built by China
UnionPay and the Haixia Bank of Fujian for local customers aged
over 60.
Advancing use case development to enable frictionless
payments
The easy payment solutions allow global visitors and senior
citizens to benefit from the convenience of a digital era through a
diverse array of payment use cases. Since the launch of Project
Excellence 2024, the acceptance coverage of UnionPay cards has
reached 93.4% among key merchants in 41 key cities and 17 use cases
nationwide. For transportation service, the development of payment
pilot zones has been completed at transit hubs including Beijing
Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International
Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Pudong International
Airport, Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan
International Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, Haikou
Meilan International Airport, and Sanya Phoenix International
Airport. UnionPay cards are accepted for ticketing at the major
high-speed railway stations in the 41 key cities, and are supported
by the English version of the 12306 China Railway website and app.
In addition, cross-border transit infrastructure including the Hong
Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the China-Laos Railway also allows
international passengers to pay with various UnionPay products.
A shopkeeper at Beijing's Pearl Market (Hongqiao) noted,
"The number of international visitors shopping here has grown
noticeably." The Market, once comparable to the Silk Street
(Xiushui) and one of the favorite shopping destinations for foreign
tourists in Beijing, was bustling with people again during China's
Labor Day holiday in May. China UnionPay and the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism jointly released an action plan to boost
culture and tourism spending in designated cities and commercial
zones, which has made UnionPay payments broadly available at
10 exemplary tourist attractions such as Zhangjiajie in Hunan
Province and Gulangyu Island in Fujian Province, as well as 25
major shopping destinations including Hubin Pedestrian Street
in Hangzhou, Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu, Laomendong district in
Nanjing, and Qilou Old Street in Haikou.
Besides, Project Excellence 2024 has enabled major hospitals,
ports and harbors, hotels with three-star ratings or above, and 146
top merchants in 41 key cities to accept UnionPay payment products.
With promotions during the Labor Day holiday and through the summer
in China, UnionPay provides high-quality, efficient, and easy
payment services across different use cases to customer groups
including inbound tourists and senior citizens.
Building consensus across the payment industry for a
splendid future
Optimizing services to facilitate payments requires systematic
efforts. Project Excellence 2024 has encouraged since its launch
all industry players to reach consensus, creating an environment
for joint investment and concerted efforts. China UnionPay has
facilitated 61 key acquirers to accept international UnionPay
cards, and 151 mainstream payment aggregators to support
UnionPay-standard wallets launched overseas. Major acquiring banks,
by leveraging accumulated resources, have enabled acceptance with
their core merchants to improve payment access. Payment
institutions, using their strength in technology and human
resources, have worked to upgrade POS terminals into ones that are
more cost-effective and intelligent.
China UnionPay will continue to implement the requirements by
the Chinese government. Guided by the PBOC and within the framework
of Project Excellence 2024, the company will collaborate closely
with industry stakeholders to improve payment services. Through
such joint efforts, UnionPay will keep contributing to the
high-quality development of the payment industry, business
environment optimization, and high-level opening up of China.
Source: China UnionPay
Contact person: Ms. Zhu, Tel: 86-10-63074558