To thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council and carry out the requirements stipulated in the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Further Optimizing Payment Services to Facilitate Payments (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions), the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) held a meeting in Shanghai on March 15, 2024 on urging and guiding financial institutions in Shanghai to intensify their efforts to continuously optimize payment services. PBOC Deputy Governor Zhang Qingsong attended and addressed the meeting.
It was stressed at the meeting that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to providing more convenient payment services for elderly people, foreign visitors to China, and other groups. The General Office of the State Council recently issued the Opinions to make institutional arrangements for the work in this regard. The PBOC will resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. It will take prompt action, adopt a problem-oriented approach, and establish a three-dimensional working mechanism that calls for close collaboration with other departments and joint efforts from various parties with clearly-set priorities. It will focus on key cities and key institutions, specify the timetable and roadmap, and earnestly promote the implementation of various measures.
It was noted at the meeting that, Shanghai, as an international financial center and China’s largest air and sea port of entry, is an important window for our country to display to the outside world. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, along with the joint efforts of relevant authorities and financial institutions in Shanghai, Shanghai has made positive progress in optimizing payment services. The coverage of overseas bank card acceptance and ATMs supporting cash withdrawal by using overseas bank cards has been continuously expanding in key venues such as airports, stations, star hotels and key business districts.
It was required at the meeting that financial institutions in Shanghai should conscientiously implement the requirements of the Opinions, make headway with payment service optimization, step up policy support and increase the input of resources in accordance with the unified arrangements of the PBOC. These institutions should give full play to the characteristics and advantages of Shanghai as both a financial center and an international city, thus developing Shanghai practices in advancing acceptance of overseas bank cards, cash use, mobile payment, bank account services, etc. In addition, financial institutions in Shanghai should carry out diversified and vivid publicity and promotion activities, so that the elderly, overseas visitors and other groups can effectively enjoy convenient payment services in China.
Attendees included officials from PBOC Shanghai Head Office, relevant departments of the PBOC, commercial banks in Shanghai, China UnionPay, and relevant payment institutions.
