Recently, the launching ceremony of the theme activity “Convenient Payment in China, Smooth China-Australia Exchange” hosted by the Financial Industry Committee of China Chamber of Commerce in Australia(CCCA) was successfully held in Sydney. Ye Wei, the Consul Counselor in charge of commercial affairs of the Consulate General in Sydney, Fan Shilei, Chief Representative of the People’s Bank of China in the South Pacific, Chen Min, Secretary General of CCCA, Chen Jianyu, Chairman of the Financial Industry Committee of CCCA and General Manager of Sydney Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and other guests attended the launching ceremony. The launching ceremony was strongly supported by the Chinese Tourism Office in Sydney, the Sydney Chinese Visa Application Service Center, and the Aviation Committee of CCCA.
Counselor Ye Wei pointed out that improving payment service levels, unblocking payment bottlenecks, promoting payment for the people, achieving seamless connection at home and abroad, and providing more high-quality, efficient and convenient payment services for foreigners coming to China are important measures taken by the Chinese government to optimize the business environment, promote high-level opening up, and serve high-quality development. I believe that through the joint efforts of all parties, we will surely achieve good results and let the Australian people feel the hospitality of the Chinese people and the convenience and efficiency of China’s financial services.
Fan Shilei said that since July last year, the People’s Bank of China has focused on the difficulties and bottlenecks faced by foreigners in making payments in China and has taken a series of measures. At present, the optimization of domestic services has achieved significant results. In April 2024, the number and amount of foreign card transactions at POS machines doubled compared with February. More than 2 million inbound people used mobile payments, and the number and amount of transactions increased by more than 80% compared with February. I hope that more Australian people will experience my country’s convenient and fast payment services during their visit to China.
General Manager Chen Jianyu said that the Financial Committee of CCCA actively leveraged its front-end information advantages and customer resources to help remove payment barriers for overseas visitors to China, fully demonstrating the responsibility of Chinese financial institutions in Australia to serve the economic and trade exchanges between China and Australia. Chinese financial institutions in Australia will continue to promote related work, provide pre-publicity services, and help foreigners pay in China.
During the event, Jian Jiangtao, Vice Chairman of the Financial Committee of CCCA and General Manager of UnionPay International South Pacific Branch, also introduced the implementation of the theme activity plan of “Convenient Payment in China and Smooth Exchanges between China and Australia” to the guests, calling on Chinese financial, civil aviation, cultural and tourism institutions in Australia to cooperate sincerely and contribute to my country’s high-level opening up.
In recent years, China-Australia bilateral relations have continued to warm up, and the end of the epidemic has also led to the gradual resumption of cross-border personnel exchanges, and the number of foreign personnel going to China to study, travel, and conduct business activities has continued to increase. This theme event will help Australians going to China enjoy a safer, more convenient and comfortable payment service experience, and inject new vitality into deepening bilateral personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation.
