Reporter Liu Qi.
On March 1, the State Council Information Office held a regular briefing on the policy of further optimizing payment services and improving payment convenience.
Zhang Qingsong, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China, Chen Hongwan, Director of the Department of Finance, Finance and Credit Construction of the National Development and Reform Commission, Gao Bo, Head of the Department of Transportation Services of the Ministry of Transport, Zhao Yang, Head of the Foreign Investment Management Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Shi Zeyi, Head of the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Liu Bin, Director of the Current Project Management Department of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, introduced the relevant situation of further optimizing payment services and improving the convenience of payment, and responded to hot issues related to payment.
Promote key venues and key merchantsOverseas bank cards are accepted
On February 23, the executive meeting deliberated and passed the "Opinions on Further Optimizing Payment Services and Improving Payment Convenience" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). According to Zhang Qingsong, the "Opinions" mainly include six major measures:
The first is to promote the acceptance of overseas bank cards by key venues and key merchants, and effectively improve the bank card acceptance environment.
The second is to adhere to the positioning of cash as a bottom line, continue to improve the cash use environment, and continuously improve the level of foreign currency exchange and cash services.
The third is to fully consider the special needs of the elderly, foreign visitors to China and other groups, and make arrangements for services suitable for the elderly and internationalization, so as to further improve the convenience of mobile payment.
Fourth, better protect consumers' payment choices. Business districts, tourist attractions, hotel accommodations and other key places above designated size must support diversified payment methods such as mobile payment, bank cards, and cash, and those below designated size must actively create conditions for reference.
Fifth, banks and payment institutions should further optimize the account opening process, reasonably implement account classification and hierarchical management, and continuously improve the level of account services.
Sixth, carry out various forms of targeted publicity activities, and continue to strengthen the construction of a "soft environment" such as publicity and promotion.
Mobile payment for foreign arrivals to ChinaThe limit for a single transaction has been increased to $5,000
In response to the difficulties encountered by foreign people in China, Zhang Qingsong said that he would guide payment institutions to launch a series of facilitation measures to make mobile payment products, the most accepted payment method for Chinese people, easy to use and usable, so that foreign friends are satisfied and willing to use them.
First, in view of the low success rate of using Alipay and WeChat to bind overseas bank cards to personnel coming to China, Alipay and Tenpay are required and guided to optimize business processes and improve the efficiency of card binding.
The second is to simplify the identity verification arrangement, so that foreign visitors to China can handle a series of procedures such as card binding more conveniently. We are also very concerned about the protection of personal information, and we will strictly require relevant institutions to implement the "Personal Information Protection" and other laws and regulations to effectively protect the security of personal information.
The third is to guide major payment institutions such as Alipay and Fortune Pass to increase the single transaction limit for foreign visitors to China from US$1,000 to US$5,000 and the annual cumulative transaction limit from US$10,000 to US$50,000.
Guide the business entityConsolidate the consensus that "refusing to accept RMB cash is illegal".
Since October 2023, the People's Bank of China, together with the CPC and other departments, has carried out a special rectification work on the refusal to accept cash, guiding business entities to keep the channels of cash payment services unimpeded, focusing on the needs of the elderly, foreign visitors to China and other groups. According to Chen Hongwan, during the special rectification period, the relevant departments carried out a comprehensive survey of the cash receipt and payment conditions of the business entity, the willingness to receive cash, etc., and guided the business entity to sign the "letter of commitment not to refuse to accept cash" and posted a sign to support cash payment. Guide financial institutions to issue "coin purses" to business entities, and give risk warnings to business entities with insufficient change reserves.
Chen Hongwan said that in the next step, the National Development and Reform Commission will further promote the special rectification work of refusing to accept RMB cash, and guide business entities to consolidate the consensus that "refusal to accept RMB cash is illegal"; Continue to carry out unannounced spot checks on scenes involving people's livelihood and foreign-related scenes, verify clues on refusal to accept cash, continue to implement penalties and publicize the refusal to accept RMB cash with a high degree of public concern and a large scope of influence, and include punishment information in the credit records of relevant entities, giving full play to the role of warnings, and implementing the people's demands for cash payment.
Continuously optimize mobile payment servicesEnsure that the elderly group can use and will use it
The People's Bank of China attaches great importance to the work of payment services for the elderly. Zhang Qingsong said that the next step will be on the basis of summarizing the work of payment for the elderly in the early stage, focusing on key areas such as mobile payment, bank card acceptance, cash payment, bank branch services, etc., and working with relevant departments to further improve the quality and efficiency of payment services for the elderly, and strive to build a comprehensive service system with wide coverage and multi-level for the elderly.
The first is to improve the inclusiveness of payment services. Focus on key convenience scenarios such as public utility payment, scenic spots, shopping malls, and medical care, and retain traditional payment methods such as cash and bank cards.
The second is to continuously optimize mobile payment services. Ensure that the elderly group can use and know how to use, and continue to bridge the digital divide.
The third is to further promote the continuous improvement of the service level of bank outlets for the elderly, promote the experience of demonstration outlets, continuously improve the temperature of payment services, and create a warm payment environment.
Fourth, we should carry out the publicity of payment for the elderly on a regular basis. Through multi-channel and reach-based publicity, we will do a good job in payment security, including the popularization of knowledge on the prevention of telecommunication fraud, and protect the "money bags" of the elderly.
Take it to the next levelEase of payment and inclusivity of transportation
The Ministry of Transport resolutely implements the decision-making and deployment, and has taken a series of targeted measures to continuously improve and improve the level of transportation services. Gao Bo said that the first is to enrich the ticket purchase channels; the second is to improve payment methods; the third is to optimize the travel environment; Fourth, improve the service experience.
Gao Bo said that the next step will be to work with relevant departments to further improve the convenience and inclusiveness of transportation payment, and provide more convenient, high-quality and efficient transportation services to protect people's livelihood and promote high-level opening-up.
Further meet the needs of foreign visitors to ChinaMobile payments and online consumer demand
Recently, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has taken multiple measures to strengthen foreign currency cash exchange services, optimize the experience of mobile payment, and improve the relevant foreign exchange service guarantees, so as to further facilitate foreigners to travel and spend in China for short-term travel and long-term work and life in China. Liu Bin said.
Liu Bin said that in the next step, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange will continue to promote more foreign currency exchange institutions to provide better exchange services for foreign visitors to China. Do a good job in ensuring foreign currency exchange services at the airport, and guide the priority deployment of foreign currency exchange institutions and facilities at the arrival gate of the airport; Ensure that important scenarios such as ports and foreign-related hotels have at least one of the five types of foreign currency exchange channels; Promote the identification of personal domestic and foreign currency exchange in airports, ports, foreign-related hotels and other places; Encourage qualified individual domestic and foreign currency exchange licensing institutions and bank outlets to expand the currencies of foreign currency exchange**, so as to better meet the exchange needs of people from different countries and regions; We will further meet the needs of foreign residents for mobile payment and online consumption, continue to improve existing business processes, and vigorously support the innovation of various safe and convenient payment service products.
* |Station cool Hailuo production |Zhou Wenrui audit |Edited by Hou Jiening |Qiao Chuanchuan final review |Zhang Xin