Shanghai facilitates payments for expats

An additional 36,000 point of sale (POS) machines will be installed or upgraded in Shanghai to enhance its payment service and better serve the upcoming sixth China International Import Expo, said the local government.

Such machines, which will be arranged citywide and able to accept domestic and overseas credit/debit cards, aim to make payments easier for visitors.

The machines will cover tourist destinations, communities with foreign residents, shopping venues and transportation hubs.

"Over 90 percent of the urban area will see the installation of such POS machines," said a government statement.

The People's Bank of China, the central bank, held a meeting last week to facilitate payment services for foreign visitors.

The PBOC said its local-level units should enhance digital payment services, such as allowing foreign-registered handsets or e-wallet accounts to pay in China.

The digital payment trend in China, supported by online payment providers like Alipay and WeChat, has received praise from foreign visitors.

"When I first arrived in 2013, I had only my credit card and some cash. Back then, not many shops accepted foreign cards," said Frank Shankar Koirala, a cashmere retailer and manufacturer from Nepal. Koirala, who has participated in the CIIE three times, is preparing for the event's upcoming edition.

"I moved to China after 2020 and started using Alipay and WeChat regularly," Koirala said.

Referring to Shanghai's efforts in POS machines, Koirala said he welcomed the move as "it benefits business people like me".

"I own a shop here and have foreign clients; payments using foreign cards were a headache. But with the new POS machines, doing business will be more convenient," Koirala said.

Shanghai has been sparing no effort to expand consumption and develop itself into an international consumption hub.

As the nation is deepening its reform and opening-up and promoting high-quality development, Shanghai is creating more landmarks for consumers and improving its business environment to attract more consumers, said Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, in August.

The metropolis will ramp up efforts to this end and build itself into a global consumer destination, Gong said.